A first in rail: Eurotunnel rolls out facial recognition tech

The Eurotunnel is to become the first non-airport border crossing to deploy biometric technology at its terminal in anticipation of longer queuing times post-Brexit. Kicking off in April, facial recognition gates have started being installed at select terminals, with a wider launch to follow. How will the technology be rolled out, and where does it fit in the wider preparations Eurotunnel is making in anticipation of Brexit?

The Channel Tunnel is set to become the world’s first rail border crossing to take a leaf out of the aviation industry’s playbook and introduce e-gates with automatic facial recognition technology.

Paris-based transport company Getlink, which manages the continental rail link through its subsidiary Eurotunnel, has partnered on the project with French digital identity management firm IN Groupe (formerly Impremerie Nationale), which is supplying its PARAFE e-gate systems for the scheme. The e-gates are intended to accelerate the border crossing process for travellers with biometric passports.

IN Groupe’s e-gate technology has been installed at airports including Marseille-Provence Airport, Lyon-Saint Exupéry and Nice Côte d’Azur, equipped with facial recognition as well as digital fingerprint technology.

“Allowing a single police officer to check five passengers simultaneously simplifies, facilitates and accelerates border control,” said IN Groupe of its e-gate technology in promotional materials.

The facial recognition roll out at the Channel Tunnel is expected to kick off this year. The first stage is set to launch in early April for the 51,000 coach passengers, primarily tourists, who travel through the tunnel each year.

Swedish security group Gunnebo will install two sets of nine PARAFE e-gates, with one set on each side of the tunnel at Folkestone on the UK side and Coquelles in France – five gates for departures and four for arrivals. Later stages of the project will see e-gates introduced first for Eurotunnel’s FlexiPlus priority shuttle services, and subsequently across the wider system.

“By becoming the first terminal on the Short Strait to be equipped with facial biometric recognition technology, Eurotunnel again demonstrates its mission to enable easier and faster travel for its customers,” said Getlink chairman and CEO Jacques Gounon in February.