Eurostar has introduced SmartCheck at London’s St Pancras Station, a contactless, fast-track facial biometric check-in system provided by iProov, a global biometric solutions provider.
SmartCheck reduces the traditional two-stage passport process to a single check. The system allows Eurostar’s Business Premier and Carte Blanche customers to save time and avoid queues for ticket and U.K. border exit checks by enrolling their ticket, passport and facial biometric ahead of travel using a mobile device. The result is a contactless, ticketless and secure journey that improves the overall passenger experience.
Eligible customers opt in by downloading the SmartCheck iProov.me app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to their smartphone. Before travelling, users scan their identity documents, verify their face and confirm their tickets in the app from wherever is convenient.
At the station, enrolled passengers use a dedicated SmartCheck corridor equipped with a walk-past facial biometric checkpoint to expedite pre-boarding procedures. This streamlined route replaces check-in at gates and automates the manual U.K. exit check previously performed by Eurostar staff. Baggage inspection and a single passport check by French border control remain in place.
© iProov
The public roll-out at St Pancras became effective this summer following a successful trial from December 2021 to April 2022. During the pilot, iProov partnered with Entrust to build a program tailored to Eurostar’s operational needs. SmartCheck combines iProov’s Biometric Solution Suite and Biometric Checkpoint with Entrust’s Identity Verification as a Service for identity orchestration and digital travel credential management.
Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar Group, said the rollout reflects the company’s commitment to a seamless station experience. Eurostar aims to increase capacity and simplify passenger flows, and SmartCheck makes check-in faster and more efficient. By adopting biometric face verification, Eurostar is the first rail operator to introduce this technology to enhance the departure experience for its customers.