Eurostar Introduces New Facial Verification System at St Pancras Station to Speed Up Check-in Process
Eurostar is introducing a new facial verification system at London's St Pancras station to speed up the check-in process for its passengers.
The technology, developed by iProov, requires passengers to use an app before travel to scan their identity document and verify their face and ticket.
At the station, they will walk in front of a screen and have their face detected.
If approved, they will be able to proceed through automatic doors.
The SmartCheck system is only available to Business Premier and Carte Blanche passengers.
Bags will still be scanned by security staff, and border officials in London and Paris will continue to check passports as before.
Eurostar has faced criticism in recent months over the number of empty seats on its trains to and from London.
The situation has since improved, but dozens of seats are not being offered for sale on some services due to enhanced post-Brexit checks carried out by French border officials, which have significantly increased the time it takes to process passengers at the station.
Eurostar's CEO, Gwendoline Cazenave, said the introduction of SmartCheck will enhance the customer departure journey, which is crucial to providing Eurostar's unique travel experience.
Andrew Bud, chief executive of iProov, added that the biometric corridor will save precious time and space at the border, streamline the boarding process, and make it more secure.
Heathrow Airport had previously trialled facial biometric scanners but dropped the project when passenger numbers collapsed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the station, they will walk in front of a screen and have their face detected.
If approved, they will be able to proceed through automatic doors.
The SmartCheck system is only available to Business Premier and Carte Blanche passengers.
Bags will still be scanned by security staff, and border officials in London and Paris will continue to check passports as before.
Eurostar has faced criticism in recent months over the number of empty seats on its trains to and from London.
The situation has since improved, but dozens of seats are not being offered for sale on some services due to enhanced post-Brexit checks carried out by French border officials, which have significantly increased the time it takes to process passengers at the station.
Eurostar's CEO, Gwendoline Cazenave, said the introduction of SmartCheck will enhance the customer departure journey, which is crucial to providing Eurostar's unique travel experience.
Andrew Bud, chief executive of iProov, added that the biometric corridor will save precious time and space at the border, streamline the boarding process, and make it more secure.
Heathrow Airport had previously trialled facial biometric scanners but dropped the project when passenger numbers collapsed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
