Eurotunnel installs 224 kiosks in preparation for French border changes

The manager of Eurotunnel has announced the installation of 224 biometric data kiosks at Folkestone and near Calais, which will be used to collect biometric data from passengers under the new Entry/Exit System (EES). 

The kiosks will allow up to 2,000 passengers – or 700 vehicles – per hour to undergo the new border checks required as part of the scheme. 

Getlink, which operates the tunnel, announced the installations on Tuesday (August 27), adding that 7,000 m² of new lanes and covered zones had been installed at Folkestone and Coquelles (the border crossing in France), providing “all-weather protection” for drivers needing to supply biometric data.

Drivers will also have their vehicle scanned upon arrival in the area, directing them to the correct lane, to minimise errors of people joining the wrong queues.

The news came in conjunction with an announcement from the UK government that it is to provide £10.5m in funding for French border crossings in the UK, £3.5m of which is earmarked for the tunnel.

What will new kiosks do? 

The kiosks have been specially designed to work with vehicles, unlike those in airports which are designed for foot traffic.

They will collect biometric data, including facial recognition photos, and can potentially be used to ask travellers questions about their visit. 

Read more: Biometric border checks: what questions will be asked to enter France?

“To validate the efficiency of the enrolment kiosks, two testing sessions have been carried out with over 180 voluntary passengers. The participants found the biometric equipment to be modern, fast and easy to use.” the company said.

The kiosks will come into force when EES launches on November 10. 

Read more: New EU border control checks to launch November 10 - official

Road facilities improved, including number plate scanners

Getlink has also installed a “dynamic signage and an intelligent lane allocation system” at Folkestone, that will work in tandem with questions Eurotunnel asks passengers when booking their tickets. 

The system “recognises the status of passengers in the vehicle (EU nationals, non-EU travellers to the EU or travellers who already registered with EES),” Getlink said.

“On arrival at check-in, the vehicle number plate is read by a camera. The system then combines the vehicle plate number with the advanced passenger information entered by the customer during the booking to determine the vehicle status,” it added.

The vehicle will then be guided to the correct lane, preventing those who have already provided information – or do not need to – from joining the wrong queue and increasing wait times.