Guide dogs, hearing guide dogs or guide dogs in training can travel for free on all public transport services.

The Assistance Animal Pass has been developed to help people with an ongoing disability (including issues relating to ageing and psychiatric illness) who are unable to use public transport without an assistance animal. For more information, view Assistance Animal Pass.

Other animals can travel subject to the following conditions:

Metropolitan services

Dogs on leads are permitted on metropolitan trains, but only if they are muzzled.

It is strongly advised that passengers with dogs do not travel during weekdays between 7.00 am and 9.00 am and between 4.00 pm and 6.00 pm.

Dogs are not allowed on seats, are not allowed to block doorways or gangways and must be controlled by their owner at all times.

Owners must clean up any mess created by their dogs.

Small animals can travel on metropolitan trains, trams and buses, but they must be in a suitable container.

V/Line services

Small animals, including cats and dogs, are allowed on V/Line trains.

The following conditions apply:

• Small animals must be carried in an approved animal container that is suitable for cats and small dogs, within the size specifications (56cm long / 30cm wide / 38cm high) and a maximum weight of 15kg (including pet).
• Small animals must be able to stand up straight, lie down without being cramped and turn around within the approved container.
• Only one approved container is allowed per adult ticket.
• Small animals in approved animal containers can be carried on Loco-Hauled services (in the luggage van), VLocity fleet (inside the passenger cabin, in the designated bike/luggage storage area) and Sprinters (inside the passenger cabin, in the designated luggage storage area).
• Owners must clean up any mess created by their animal.
• Owners are advised to travel outside peak times.
• Dangerous dogs are not permitted to travel on V/Line services.
• V/Line conductors will determine whether there is enough space for small animals.

Animals are not permitted on V/Line bus services (including rail replacement bus services) with the exception of guide dogs and assistance animals.

Download the brochure below for more information:

Taking your pet on a V/Line train (PDF) 247 kB

 Assistance Animal Pass

The Assistance Animal Pass has been developed to help people with an ongoing disability (including issues relating to ageing and psychiatric illness) who are unable to use public transport without an assistance animal.

The pass is issued to people who can demonstrate that their assistance animal alleviates the effects of their disability.

Download an application form via the link below and follow the step-by-step instructions:  

Assistance Animal Pass application form

Types of assistance animals covered by the Assistance Animal Pass include:

• Mobility support animals: trained to help people with physical disabilities who use wheelchairs or have difficulty moving
• Medical alert animals: trained to assist their handlers before and during a medical emergency
• Psychiatric service animals: trained to provide support to people with psychiatric disabilities.

The following assistance animals do not require an Assistance Animal Pass and can travel free on public transport in Victoria:  

• Guide dogs trained to help blind or visually-impaired people
• Guide dogs in training
• Hearing dogs trained to help deaf or hearing-impaired people

For more information contact the Central Pass Office.