No more queuing. From now on, when you take the Eurostar train from London, all you have to do is follow a dedicated corridor to be checked by facial recognition without stopping once. This is the SmartCheck system. We explain to you.
You arrive at the Eurostar station to return to France from London. You must present your ticket, then your passport, then your ticket again… The checks never end until you finally sit down on the train. It’s over. Eurostar launches the SmartCheck system, an automated passport and ticket check by facial recognition before boarding. After a conclusive test phase, the tool developed by iProov is now offered to travelers in order to make boarding as smooth as possible. And for good reason : checks are carried out without you having to stop once.
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With 11 million travelers per year, we understand Eurostar’s desire to facilitate their movement. For now, only Business Premier passengers and Carte Blanche members can benefit from SmartCheck. The company of course intends to extend it to all travelers in the near future. The “biometric corridor” is available at St Pancras International station, in London, right next to the Business Premier entrance. Again, if the system convinces enough people, extending it to other stations is planned.
SmartCheck streamlines boarding the Eurostar with facial recognition
Before passing the checks, you will first have to download the iProov.me app on iOS or Android. Follow the steps to verify your identity and register your ticket. Note that you will need your passport to set up the app. Once at the station, remove what covers your face (glasses, hat, etc.) and follow the dedicated corridor, walking normally. Facial recognition and control of the different rooms are automatic. In the event of a problem, which is very rare, a (human) controller will take over.
What about data security? The Eurostar FAQ is very clear about this: “[…] your information will be verified and then securely stored on your smartphone. They will be shared with ticket and passport control systems only when you choose […]. It will then be kept for up to 48 hours and deleted from our systems after your trip. Your data is encrypted throughout the SmartCheck process”. Reassuring. It’s better to get used to it anyway, facial recognition is everywhere, even in cars.
Source: Eurostar