A public opinion poll on allowing pets on China's high-speed trains has sparked a lively debate online, with some arguing it would be of great benefit to pet owners, while others expressed concerns about hygiene and practicality. There are some people.
Pets are currently prohibited from riding on high-speed trains, but railway operators are beginning to consider the possibility of allowing small pets to ride on high-speed trains under certain conditions.
The China Railway Customer Service Center recently launched a survey to gauge passengers' opinions on the issue. Passengers can scan the QR code on their seats and access the official railway service platform, the 12306 application, to answer 15 questions related to the theme of “Pet travel on high-speed trains''. Masu. Questions include the need for pet transport by high-speed rail, the types of pets to be transported, the frequency and cost of such services, protective measures, and suggestions from non-pet owners.
The survey spawned its own topic on the Sina Weibo social media platform, with more than 1 million views by Monday.
“In recent years, we have received many inquiries from passengers about the possibility of transporting pets on high-speed rail,” the center said in a statement.
“Based on the feedback from the survey, we will continue to dig deeper into the feasibility of rapid pet transportation. We welcome suggestions and comments from the public.”
Some netizens support the idea of allowing pets to ride high-speed trains, citing the revenue potential and convenience provided to pet owners.
A few years ago, a woman named Su faced the challenge of transporting her two cats from Jiangsu province to Beijing. She used a carpool service, but it cost her 2,500 yuan (about $350), more than four times the cost of her second-class bullet train ticket. It took her about 13 hours by road, but less than 6 hours by Shinkansen.
Sue had a hard time finding a carpool provider who would accept her cat. She also considered other options such as air and road transport.
“Cats are delicate creatures, like little babies. I don't feel safe unless they're with me,” Sue said, expressing optimism about the investigation, although she acknowledged there are still practical hurdles. Ta.
Mr. Guo, a resident of Xiamen City, Fujian Province, said he prefers to drive with his pet because there are many practical concerns such as illness and accidents while traveling with the pet.
In the US and UK, pets are allowed on certain railway lines under certain conditions. In China, the latest regulations for passenger trains, which took effect in July 2022, prohibit the transport of live chickens and ducks.
There are exceptions for some slow trains that primarily serve underdeveloped areas.
With the continuous expansion of the railway network, rail travel is becoming increasingly popular in China. According to national railway operator China National Railway Group, there were 3.68 billion rides last year.
As demand for pet-friendly travel options increases and the debate over pet policy on high-speed rail continues, there is hope that a balanced solution will be found that meets the needs of both pet owners and other passengers. Masu.
