The introduction of a new EU border system at London’s St Pancras railway station has been “quite encouraging” according to Simon Lejeune, the chief safety and stations officer for Eurostar. He informed peers that some passengers are being processed through the Entry Exit System (EES) in as little as 50 seconds.
The EES, which was introduced on Sunday, requires people from third-party countries such as the UK to register their fingerprints and have their photograph taken to enter the Schengen area, which comprises 29 European countries, primarily within the EU. For most UK travellers, the EES process will be completed at foreign airports.
However, those boarding international services from St Pancras, the Port of Dover, and Eurotunnel’s Folkestone terminal will complete the checks in the UK. Eurostar has established three areas at St Pancras, housing a total of 49 kiosks where pre-registration for EES can take place.
Mr Lejeune told the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee that the process at the station is initially being handled solely by French border officers, and there have been “really good transaction times”.
He said: “I was observing transaction times of 50 seconds. That’s for the full biometrics, as well as the passport check and the stamping for EES-eligible passengers.
“So quite encouraging, and that’s without the kiosks that do that pre-registration, which we’ll be introducing over the next few weeks.”