Eurostar announced the roll-out at London’s St Pancras Station of SmartCheck, a contact-less, fast-track facial biometric check-in system supplied by iProov, a global provider of biometric solutions.

With SmartCheck, passengers go through only one passport check instead of two. SmartCheck enables Eurostar’s Business Premier and Carte Blanche passengers to save time and avoid lines for ticket and U.K. border exit checks by Eurostar staff in the station by securely enrolling their ticket, passport and face before they travel, using mobile devices whenever convenient. The result is a contactless, ticketless and secure travel experience enhancing the overall passenger journey.

Customers booked in Business Premier or Carte Blanche holders who would like to use SmartCheck opt in and download the SmartCheck iProov.me app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to their smartphone. Before travel, use the app to scan your identity documentation and verify your face alongside your tickets using a mobile device.

The new system then enables Eurostar passengers to expedite pre-boarding processes at the station by proceeding through a dedicated SmartCheck corridor with its walk-past facial biometric checkpoint.

© iProov

This fast, contact-less route replaces the existing processes of check-in at gates and automates the current manual U.K. exit check carried out by Eurostar staff. Just baggage inspection and one passport check through French border control remain.

The roll-out, which became effective this summer, follows a successful trial of the new system from December 2021 to April 2022, during which iProov worked with its partner Entrust to create the pilot program that met Eurostar’s needs. The SmartCheck solution incorporates iProov’s Biometric Solution Suite with Biometric checkpoint, together with Entrust’s Identity Verification as a Service technology for identity orchestration and digital travel credential management.

“Providing a seamless station experience to our customers is a priority for Eurostar,” said Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO, Eurostar Group. “We continue looking for solutions to increase capacity in stations and simplify passenger flows. SmartCheck in St Pancras International station is a solution for a faster and seamless check-in experience. By introducing SmartCheck, we become the first rail travel operator to adopt biometric face verification. This innovation will enhance our customer departure journey, which is crucial to provide Eurostar’s unique travel experience.”