Passengers travelling on Eurostar rail services from London’s St Pancras International station to continental Europe will be able to complete pre-departure ticket and passport checks before they arrive at the terminus via biometric face recognition technology, enabling them to board the train using face verification alone. eurostar biometrics

That pilot – named SmartCheck – has now launched, initially for a limited number of invited Business Premier and Carte Blanche ticket holders who are iPhone users.

Eligible customers departing London St Pancras can now scan their identity documentation using their iPhone, and then complete a biometric face scan to verify that they are the genuine holder of that document.

The biometric face verification is then linked to their e-ticket using iProov’s Genuine Presence Assurance technology.

On arrival at St Pancras, the customer is able to use a dedicated SmartCheck lane, where their face is scanned to verify their identity. A second face scan takes place at the UK Exit Check, with no sharing of tickets or documentation required.

Eurostar said that the aim of the service will be to “eliminate queues and expedite the boarding process to further improve customer satisfaction, especially for frequent travellers”.

Earlier this year we covered a report by US publication Trains, which suggested that time-consuming checks at immigration as a result of Brexit could lead to extended check-in times, so the SmartCheck technology will be welcome news for travellers.

Andrew Bud, founder and CEO of iProov said “The days of rooting around in your bag for your passport or hoping that your phone battery doesn’t run out before you show your e-ticket at the gate are over”.

“It’s effortless and convenient while also delivering the reassurance and security that travellers expect,” Bud added.

Meanwhile, Gareth Williams, strategy director and company secretary at Eurostar, commented:

“We are committed to working closely with governments to introduce new tools and technology that streamline the check in and border process.

“Face biometric technology, which we start trialling today, is a fast and contactless solution which will enable secure passenger checks to take place more efficiently and provide a seamless start to the Eurostar customer journey.” eurostar biometrics