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An app designed to reduce confusion for Britons traveling across the English Channel will not be ready in time for new EU border plans, the head of Eurostar has told the BBC.
From October, non-EU nationals will be required to register their fingerprints and photographs at borders under the much-delayed Entry and Exit System (EES).
It was hoped the app would allow passengers to control it remotely and avoid long queues for British travelers.
However, Eurostar boss Gwendolyn Kaznave told the BBC that the app was not ready in time and the train company was preparing to have checks made at stations.
The EES replaces the passport stamp. It aims to better monitor who enters and exits the EU.
However, there have been repeated warnings that there could be long queues at the Port of Dover, Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals as people take extra time to complete their initial registration.
French border police are carrying out checks at these sites as people leave the UK.
Ms Kaznabe said Eurostar had begun installing more than 30 kiosks at St Pancras in preparation for the change to EES this autumn.
“The key is to prepare for the flow of customers within the station and to have as many staff as possible. [much] We provide a space for customers to cross borders in a seamless manner,” she said.
The Eurostar boss said an app would make things smoother and said the EU would start EES without an app, but added: “I’m sure it will be introduced soon.”
Queuing issues are expected to occur particularly at the Port of Dover due to limited space and the large number of cars, buses and trucks handled.
In March, P&O Ferries’ directors said the implementation of the IT system should be postponed again until October.
Eurotunnel owner Getlink is building new processing areas in Folkestone and Calais to accommodate the changes.
Recovery in passenger numbers
Eurostar passenger numbers and revenue plummeted during the pandemic, but by the end of last year the cross-Channel train operator had recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
It is expected to receive up to 2 million passengers during this summer’s Paris Olympics.
Eurostar is affiliated with Team GB, the Belgian, Dutch and German Olympic teams.
When London-Paris tickets went on sale in November, sales were three times higher than normal, Cazenave said.
She acknowledged that Eurostar ticket prices were higher than airfares, but said it was “not the same service” as the train delivered customers directly to the city centre.
There is also demand for sustainable travel, she added.
