Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Eurostar has announced an £8.5 million investment to prepare for the new European Entry Exit System (EES), set to be implemented later this year. The EES aims to bolster European border security by requiring all British travelers by air, train, or ferry to register their passport, facial image, and fingerprints, and answer four trip-related questions.
These details must be updated every three years and verified by a French customs officer before travel. Scheduled to begin on October 6, the new system necessitates substantial adjustments at St Pancras rail terminal. Eurostar has established three new areas, equipped with 49 self-service kiosks, outside the check-in zone for passenger registration.
A Benugo coffee shop will be converted into the largest kiosk area. Additionally, an overflow area on the mezzanine level will handle peak times, and a third area will cater to business passengers and those needing assistance, located opposite Eurostar’s main entrance. Eurostar officials assert that passengers will complete the checks within 90 seconds, with French border officers confirming the details after check-in, security, and English passport control.
The company is confident that passengers will continue to arrive between 45 minutes to an hour and a half before departure, as currently recommended. Despite Eurostar’s optimism, other officials and politicians have expressed concerns. The Justice and Home Affairs Committee recently warned of potential .