Eurostar passengers will need to use new kiosks due to EU border rules

When the EU border rules come into effect, UK-based Eurostar travelers will be required to utilize electronic kiosks prior to their London departure for check-in purposes.

According to the train service that goes from one side of the English Channel to the other, travelers are required to utilize the devices located at St Pancras station for the purpose of recording their passport details, facial features, and fingerprints. Additionally, they must respond to a set of four questions regarding the particulars of their journey.

EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is scheduled to be implemented on October 6, and compliance with it will be mandatory.

The head of Eurostar stations and security, Simon Lejeune (who is on the right side in the picture), has expressed the operator's aim to provide passengers with a seamless and convenient experience.

Eurostar has stated that travelers will have a pleasant and hassle-free trip despite the added measures.

The company is not planning to alter its present recommendation for clients to show up at the station up to an hour and a half prior to their train's scheduled departure.

Eurostar is investing 10 million euros (£8.5 million) to renovate the border facilities at St Pancras.

The check-in area is now equipped with three registration areas that have a combined total of 49 kiosks. These registration areas are located within a close distance of the check-in area.

French officials had recommended a number of kiosks, but this particular amount is over two times larger than their suggestion.

The devices are automated, however, there will be personnel available to assist travelers who require aid.

Once a traveler has utilized a self-service station, accomplished the check-in process, and cleared security screenings along with UK departure formalities, they are still required to finalize their EES registration through French border officials who will carry out a secondary fingerprint scan.

The European Entry and Exit System (EES) will be enforced for individuals from non-European Union states, like the United Kingdom, who are visiting the EU.

After a person has completed the registration process, it will not be necessary to scan their fingerprints for future trips within the next three years.

Those travelers will still have to utilize a self-service machine but can go through immigration control at the French border by electronic gates instead of being attended to by a staff member.

Eurostar is optimistic that by eliminating the necessity to stamp all UK passports every time one travels, border control procedures could become more efficient with the implementation of EES.

According to Simon Lejeune, who is the Chief Stations and Security Officer at Eurostar, they are not going to request their customers to arrive earlier for EES.

We'll continue to keep the existing check-in schedule.

He stated: "Our goal is to provide a seamless experience for all our travelers."

According to Richard Thorp, the director of engineering at HS1 Ltd, the company that owns St Pancras, individuals tend to feel anxious when crossing borders, as it is not something they do on a regular basis.

We must inform and prepare people about the modification in that procedure.

There's no reason to be afraid. It's rather easy, and the queries won't be perplexing.