Documentation requirements for handlers/trainers and animal identification
Identity documents and certification for trainers, handlers, guide, hearing or assistance dogs and assistance animals:
Trainers and employee trainers of training institutions who want to certify guide, hearing and assistance dogs must be approved under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (the Act).
The training institutions, contacts and locations, currently approved under the Act can be viewed by visiting the Queensland Government – guide-hearing-assistance-dogs-trainers webpage.
Queensland Rail Travel will accept documentation and passes as follows:
- Issued by the currently approved training institutions listed on the Queensland Government webpage.
- Other government assistance animal passes and non-government approved training organisations that Queensland Rail Travel will accept as evidence of certified training, allowing for travel with us as displayed below.
Other passes that we accept:
The following is a list of other government assistance animal passes and non-government training organisations that Queensland Rail Travel will accept as evidence of certified training, allowing for travel with us.
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TransLink Assistance Animal Pass – Information and application process can be viewed on the TransLink website.
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NSW Government: Transport for NSW – Assistance Animal Permit
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Victorian Public Transport – Assistance Animal Pass
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Government of WA – Assistance Dog Pass
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Young Diggers
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Revolutionary Assistance Dogs Inc.
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mindDog Australia
Queensland Rail Travel will consider passes/cards issued by other organisations that deliver appropriate training, but are not on these lists. To enable us to confirm certification, we may require documentation, or request information about the training organisation. Please let us know at the time of booking if your organisation does not appear on these lists.
Sample Images of Identification for Handlers/Trainers
The following images of cards issued by the Queensland Government for handlers and trainers of guide, hearing and assistance dogs will be accepted by Queensland Rail Travel.
Primary Handler Identification
Puppy Carer Identification
Primary Handler Identification (requires alternate handler)
Alternate Handler Identification
Approved Trainer Identification
Employee Trainer Identification
Identification back of card
Images of identification for animals
A Guide Dog wearing a harness
A Lions Hearing Dog wearing an identifying coat and lead
A Guide Dog walking with a harness
A Lions Hearing Dog wearing an identifying coat and lead
Handler/Trainer responsibilities while travelling with us
Handler/Accompanying Trainer Responsibilities:
- To obtain and carry sufficient evidence that the animal has been trained and certified including handler or trainer identification.
- Approved trainers and handlers must display their identity card on request. Dogs will be required to wear their identification badge/medallion and their coat, vest or harness.
In the absence of evidence or identification, travel with the dog or animal may not be approved. If you are unable to provide sufficient evidence that the animal has been trained, please discuss with us in advance of travel.
- To ensure the animal is under the direct control of the handler or a trainer at all times, this includes taking the animal off the train for comfort stops.
- The dog or assistance animal must be seated on the floor in the space allocated by Queensland Rail Travel (not on an adjacent seat or in the lap of the handler/trainer).
- To ensure the good behaviour and hygiene of the animal.
- It is recommended that you supply absorbent bedding or a mat suitable for your animal providing it is clean and in good condition.
- Customers must account for any damage to Queensland Rail Travel property by the animal.
- Discuss with the onboard team regarding your dining options and any aspects of your journey including comfort stops for your animal.
How to make a booking including an assistance animal
How to make a booking that includes a guide, hearing or assistance dog or an assistance animal:
Bookings are required when travelling with certified guide, hearing or assistance dogs or assistance animals and they will be carried free of charge on Queensland Rail Travel services.
Bookings can be made online, over the phone or in person at a Travel Centre.
Our reservations system has been setup with locations on each train and in each travel option that provides space for your guide, hearing or assistance dog or assistance animal. For details on these locations on each service, please visit Carriage Layouts.
In general, these locations on each train are as close as possible to the carriage exit doors to enable easy access for the customer and their guide, hearing and assistance dog or assistance animal.
The seating configuration for you and your guide, hearing or assistance dog or assistance animal may change depending on the service and carriage:
Bookings in a Seat or RailBed:
- A seat or RailBed will be booked where there is adjacent floor space is provided to comfortably accommodate the animal.
- An extra seat or Railbed will be held (free of charge) in some locations next to the person travelling to allow for the animal to sit on the floor in front of the extra seat or RailBed.
Bookings in a Sleeper:
- When booking a Sleeper, a Twin Sleeper will be held to provide floor space to comfortably accommodate the animal.
If these designated locations are not available or you require a different allocation booked please contact us to discuss other options.
When making a booking of this type, the travel option you require should state “includes assistance animal space”.
At the time of booking, you are required to provide the Pass type or Training Organisation. e.g. Guide Dogs Queensland, TransLink Assistance Animal Pass etc.
We may need to contact you to confirm certification if the pass or training organisation is not one that is on the list approved under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (the Act) or our other listed government passes and non-government training organisations. Refer to the tab in the menu above this section: Identity documents and certification for trainers, handlers, guide, hearing or assistance dog and assistance animals.
You must provide the above information to us for every booking, as this information is not retained in our booking systems.
Bookings can be made in the following ways: