Eurostar has unveiled the world’s first walk-through biometric corridor for train travel at its London terminal. Developed by UK tech firm iProov, the system replaces traditional border checks with a facial verification checkpoint that passengers can simply walk past. To use the system, passengers need to download an app, authenticate their ID, scan their face, and link their ticket. On arrival at St Pancras Station, they can then stroll through a dedicated lane, known as SmartCheck, which verifies their entry. The system eliminates the need for paper tickets, manual border control, and long queues, promising a smoother and more efficient travel experience. Initially, SmartCheck will be available only to Eurostar’s Business Premier and Carte Blanche passengers, but the company has plans to extend the service to all customers and potentially other borders. Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave stated that the company aims to be at the forefront of this technology.
The development of the biometric system has been years in the making, with iProov receiving part of a £9.4m fund from the UK’s Department for Transport for innovative rail projects. Live trials of the contactless service began at Eurostar the following year. The system was initially tested with passengers stopping at the facial verification checkpoint, but iProov’s CTO, Dominic Forrest, said they decided to aim for a free-flow experience. In a trial run of the system, conducted by TNW, the experience was seamless, with passengers able to walk straight past the facial verification checkpoint.
While similar biometric technology has been deployed at airports, this is the first time it has been implemented at a train station. Andrew Bud, CEO of iProov, highlighted that rail travel presents unique challenges for biometric corridors, including different controls, throughput, and information flow. Eurostar’s busy London terminal sees around 11 million passengers passing through each year in an area approximately the size of three tennis courts, which makes rapid checks crucial.
Privacy concerns regarding surveillance have been raised about the use of biometrics. However, iProov assures that all personal data is securely stored on the user’s smartphone and encrypted during the SmartCheck process. The information will only be shared with the ticket gate and passport control, and it will be deleted from the systems after a maximum of 48 hours. Bud emphasizes that SmartCheck is an opt-in system, and no one will ever be compelled to use it.
Addressing concerns of biased systems, iProov states that high-end AI algorithms have addressed these biases. Recent research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has shown that the top 150 facial recognition algorithms are over 99% accurate for different demographic groups.
During trials of SmartCheck, 86% of users expressed their likelihood to opt for the service, suggesting that the public may embrace this technology. Eurostar aims to offer a seamless and convenient travel experience with the implementation of the biometric corridor.
