Eurostar is scrapping its fast-track check-in system in London that uses passenger facial biometrics to speed up the boarding process only a year and a half after its launch to make way for new EU travel rules.
The cross-Channel train operator introduced ‘SmartCheck’ to London St Pancras station in July 2023 as a way of saving time on passenger check-in and “enhancing the overall passenger journey”.
The SmartCheck system was available to Business Premier and Carte Blanche passengers, but the technology will no longer be used at the station from 13 February 2025.
The SmartCheck lane will now become an extra priority lane for Eurostar Premier, Carte Blanche and Étoile Club Eurostar passengers.
Passengers are still able to use the SmartCheck system until 12 February, which uses an app that links train tickets and has dedicated lanes towards passport control.
The system enables Eurostar passengers to expedite pre-boarding processes at the station by proceeding through a SmartCheck passage with a walk-past facial biometric checkpoint.
After enrolling their ticket, passport and face before they travel, passengers then only need to go through one passport check instead of two.
At the time of its launch, Gwendoline Cazenave, the CEO of Eurostar Group said that the SmartCheck system was a “solution for a faster and seamless check-in experience”, with Eurostar becoming the first rail travel operator to adopt biometric face verification.
Eurostar wrote that it has decided to remove SmartCheck “as we continue to make some changes at the station in preparation for the launch of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES)”.
“As part of these preparations, we’re improving our border control area with new ePassport gates and extra passport control booths.
“This will help us ensure the border control process is as smooth as possible for passengers travelling in the coming months and after EES has launched.”
The EES is a system that is been in development for years and will change border checks in the Schengen area by requiring travellers to register biometric details such as a fingerprint or a photo when they arrive.
The system aims to capture data from all “third-country nationals”, such as British travellers, when they either enter or leave at an external Schengen border.
The system will replace the…
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