A new era of travel for pets: MTR "Cat/Dog Carrying" Trail Scheme and

Introduction

As pets become important members of modern families, how to ensure their safe and comfortable travel has become a pressing concern for many pet parents. Recently, Hong Kong's MTR launched a new pet-friendly pilot scheme on the Light Rail to explore the possibility of harmonious co-existence between pets and owners on public transport. This scheme not only creates a new mode of travel for pets but also provides a huge impetus for the research and innovation of related products. This article will detail all aspects of the scheme, discuss the challenges and opportunities in pet travel, and recommend several strollers/carriers from Pets Thing to add convenience and comfort to your pet's journey.

Details of MTR's Pet-Friendly Pilot Scheme

Starting May 1st, Hong Kong's MTR launched a two-month pilot scheme for cats and dogs on Light Rail carriages, featuring five key travel rules. The scheme aims to create a safe, clean, and friendly environment for pets and owners on public transport. Here are the core details of the scheme:

Scheme Background and Launch

According to a press release dated March 25, 2026, MTR Corporation has always been committed to providing safe and reliable railway services and adjusts its services to meet different passenger needs as society changes.

After careful evaluation and detailed planning, MTR announced on March 25, 2026, the launch of a two-month "Cats and Dogs Together" pilot scheme on the Light Rail.

The scheme allows owners to bring cats or dogs on the Light Rail during weekends and public holidays, aiming to create a friendly and harmonious travel environment. Concurrently, MTR has invited the SPCA Hong Kong as a partner to provide advice and training for frontline staff, ensuring the scheme considers safety, hygiene, and passenger comfort during implementation.

Core Rules of the Pilot Scheme

• "Pet Together Pass" System:

  Each passenger must purchase and hold an electronic "Pet Together Pass" via MTR Mobile (priced at HKD 99). Each passenger is limited to bringing one cat or dog per trip, and it is only valid on weekends and public holidays.

  Each passenger can only purchase one pass per month for the current month and one for the following month. The pass is electronic and does not auto-renew.
• Carriage Method and Dedicated Bag Requirements:

  Before entering the Light Rail platform, passengers must fully place their pet into a dedicated bag or backpack that complies with luggage regulations (total length, width, and height not exceeding 170 cm, with no single side exceeding 130 cm) and keep it sealed until leaving the Light Rail area, ensuring no part of the pet is exposed.

• Boarding/Alighting and Seating Position:

  Passengers with pets must board and alight at the last door of the Light Rail carriage (for coupled cars, the last door of the first and last cars can be used) and remain in the rear of the carriage throughout the journey. Passengers must still pay the normal fare during the trip; the "Pet Together Pass" serves only as identification and does not include fare subsidies.

• Safety and Hygiene Management:

  MTR will have dedicated supervisory staff in the carriages for inspection. Passengers must present a valid electronic Pet Together Pass in MTR Mobile (screenshots or printed versions are not accepted). Additionally, passengers should assess their pet's physical and mental condition before traveling and bring their own cleaning tools to maintain the cleanliness of the carriage environment.

• Pilot Period and Scope: The pilot scheme began on May 1st and will run for two months. During this period, Light Rail carriages will serve as testing grounds to observe and evaluate the actual situation of pets and passengers co-riding, and collect feedback from all parties to improve future service design.
• Detailed Regulations for Travel Rules:
  • Container Requirements: All pets must be placed in compliant pet containers, strollers, or dedicated carrying bags, ensuring they do not affect other passengers in the carriage.
  • Size and Quantity Restrictions: Strict regulations are imposed on the size and quantity of pets to prevent overcrowding or safety hazards caused by excessively large or numerous pets in the carriage.
  • Safety and Hygiene Measures: Necessary cleaning and disinfection must be carried out before travel, and owners are required to keep their pets quiet at all times to avoid disturbing other passengers.
  • Supervision and Enforcement Mechanism: A dedicated supervision mechanism is in place, with staff present in carriages to ensure rules are followed and to take appropriate action in case of violations.
  • Pilot Feedback and Adjustments: During the pilot period, feedback will be extensively collected from passengers and pet parents, and rules and services will be continuously optimized based on this feedback, providing a basis for future full implementation.
• Purpose and Significance of the Scheme: The launch of this pilot scheme not only reflects the public transport department's emphasis on pet-friendly services but also demonstrates urban managers' pursuit of enhancing citizens' quality of life. Through experimental trials, MTR hopes to understand the impact of pet travel on traffic order, environmental hygiene, and passenger comfort, thereby formulating more scientific and inclusive pet travel policies.

Partnerships and Promotional Activities

To ensure the smooth running of the pilot scheme, MTR invited the SPCA Hong Kong to provide professional advice and suggested that pet owners familiarize themselves with the dedicated bag environment in advance, for example, by preparing breathable, spacious bags and absorbent pads to ensure pets can travel comfortably.

Ms. Anna Hou, Deputy Director of Animal Welfare at the SPCA, stated that this scheme is an important step towards building a pet-friendly and inclusive community, and looks forward to further collaboration with MTR to improve pet travel policies and staff training.

In addition, MTR invited local creative brand "Chocolate Rain" to design a variety of lively and cute posters and promotional materials to publicize the pilot scheme through various channels, making it easier for the public to understand the relevant regulations and arrangements. MTR will also sponsor "Doctor Dog" under Animals Asia Foundation, to thank the animals and their guardians for their years of contributions to the community, and encourage citizens to donate points via MTR Mobile to support the animal welfare work of SPCA Hong Kong starting April 1, 2026.

MTR Corporation and Community Vision

MTR Corporation, with over 45 years of railway expertise and more than 50,000 employees in Hong Kong, mainland China, Australia, the UK, and Sweden, is committed to fostering a more inclusive and friendly community through seamless integration of railway, commercial, and property development. The "Cats and Dogs Together" pilot scheme is MTR's significant effort to respond to public demand for convenient pet travel and enhance the quality of public transport services.

Challenges and Future Trends in Pet Travel

Although the pet-friendly pilot scheme brings new hope for pet travel, some challenges remain in practical operation:

• Balancing Safety and Comfort: Public transport carriages have limited space. Providing a sufficiently safe and clean travel environment for pets while ensuring the safety and comfort of other passengers is a highly challenging task.
• Importance of Carrying Tools: Various pet carrying tools are already on the market, but many products still fall short in terms of safety, comfort, and convenience. Choosing a product that meets pets' needs and is easy for owners to operate and store is a pressing issue for pet parents.
• Innovation in Technology and Services: With the continuous development of smart technology, functions such as remote monitoring, video interaction, and real-time positioning are becoming increasingly common in pet travel. Future pet travel products will not only need basic transport functions but also integrate intelligent management to enhance the overall travel experience.

These challenges also present huge opportunities for the market, prompting major brands to continuously innovate and launch products that better meet the needs of modern pet families. It is against this backdrop that Pets Thing has introduced a series of professionally designed pet strollers, becoming an important choice for enhancing the quality of pet travel.

Pets Thing Pet Stroller Recommendations

In this era of increasingly intelligent pet travel, choosing a suitable pet stroller can not only ensure your pet's safety but also enhance the overall travel experience. Pets Thing highly recommends strollers with the following key features:

• Spacious and Comfortable: The strollers feature a spacious interior design, providing ample room for movement, allowing pets to remain comfortable during travel. Sturdy construction and high-quality materials ensure riding safety.
• Easy to Maneuver and Fold: Ergonomically designed handlebars and flexible wheels make the strollers easy to maneuver in busy cities, and they can be quickly folded for convenient storage and portability on public transport.
• Multi-functional Storage Design: The strollers are equipped with dedicated storage spaces for pet daily necessities, snacks, etc., making travel more relaxed and organized.
• Durable and Safe: High-quality materials and reinforced design, from anti-slip tires to structural safety, ensure every detail provides the safest and most stable travel protection for pets.
• Perfectly Suited for Pet Travel Needs: Designed specifically for public transport like the Light Rail and MTR, the strollers are moderately sized and easy to fold and store, making them an ideal travel companion for pet parents.

To learn more and make a purchase, please visit our Pets Thing Stroller Collection.

Conclusion

MTR's pet-friendly pilot scheme marks a solid step towards pet-friendly services in Hong Kong's public transport. By establishing strict travel rules, the scheme aims to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and pets while providing valuable experience for improving future pet travel policies. For pet parents, choosing a high-quality stroller not only solves travel carrying difficulties but also enhances the pet's comfort and safety.

Pets Thing, with its professional product design and thoughtful features, becomes your best partner in embracing the intelligent future of pet travel. Let's create more wonderful journeys together and safeguard pet travel!