St. Pancras International trials contactless checks for tickets and passports

A trial has started at London St. Pancras International of SmartCheck, which is a contactless fast-track service to securely verify travel tickets and UK exit checks.

SmartCheck enables Business Premier and Carte Blanche ticket holders to complete their ticket verification and UK exit checks on their mobile devices before they travel.

Identity documents can be scanned using their iPhones before they arrive at the station, and complete a brief biometric face scan to verify that they are the genuine holder of the document. The biometric face verification is then linked to their e-ticket, and a confirmation is sent to the passenger.

The biometric face verification uses Genuine Presence Assurance technology developed by iProov, which is the world leader in biometric face authentication technology.

On arrival at St Pancras International, eligible passengers will proceed through a dedicated SmartCheck lane. A brief face scan at the ticket gate then verifies that the passenger has completed their ticket check with no need for paper or electronic tickets. At the UK Exit Check, a second face scan allows Eurostar to verify that the passenger has completed their passport information, again replacing the need for travellers to hand over documentation.

SmartCheck aims to revolutionise travel by making it completely effortless for the passenger, while maximising privacy and increasing reassurance through improved security. The aim is to eliminate queues and speed the boarding process.

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The concept is being introduced as part of the First of a Kind 2020 competition run by Innovate UK, which is funded by the Department for Transport; the initiative supports research, development, and innovation in the UK rail industry.

Currently, only a limited number of invited passengers will be taking part in the trial, and it is solely focussed on the check-in and exit control processes operated by Eurostar at St Pancras, not the UK or Schengen Entry controls.

Andrew Bud, Founder and CEO of iProov, said “This secure, convenient and privacy-protecting technology will make life easier and safer for travellers around the world. The days of rooting around in your bag for your passport or hoping that your phone battery doesn’t run out before you show your e-ticket at the gate are over. It’s effortless and convenient while also delivering the reassurance and security that travellers expect.”

Gareth Williams, Strategy Director and Company Secretary, Eurostar, said “We are committed to working closely with governments to introduce new tools and technology that streamline the check in and border process. Face biometric technology, which we start trialling today, is a fast and contactless solution which will enable secure passenger checks to take place more efficiently and provide a seamless start to the Eurostar customer journey.”
The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said “Our investment into the First of a Kind competition, supporting ingenious inventions on our rail network, is driving real-world innovations as we build the railway of tomorrow. The brand new contactless travel technology from iProov and Eurostar is a window into the future of border control, of smoother, more seamless and convenient journeys.”

iProov technology is in use throughout the world, with customers including the US Department of Homeland Security, the UK Home Office, the NHS, the Australian Taxation Office, the Singapore Government, and many banks and enterprises.

iProov’s Genuine Presence Assurance technology enables organizations to securely verify the identity of consenting online individuals in a way that is completely effortless for the user. A brief, multi-dimensional biometric face scan combines light, time and space to verify that a remote user is the right person, a real person, and that they are authenticating in real time. This is a highly secure process that is supported by iProov’s active threat management system, protects against spoof attacks, and can be used on any smartphone, tablet, or computer with a user-facing camera.

The trial was developed in close partnership with Eurostar and WorldReach Software, which is now part of the global identity and data security company Entrust. All personal data is processed in compliance with GDPR law, with full passenger consent. It is not shared with any party outside the trial and is deleted within six hours of the user travelling.