Preparations are in full swing at major Channel crossing points as the UK gets ready for the new automated European Union (EU) border IT system set to launch this October.
The Entry Exit System (EES) will require non-EU nationals, including British citizens, to register biometric information when crossing the border for the first time.
Concerns have been raised about potential delays, prompting a significant investment of tens of millions of pounds in equipment and processing areas at Dover’s ferry port, Eurostar’s London St Pancras terminus, and Eurotunnel’s Folkestone site.
Upgrades at Key Locations
Dover Ferry Port: Plans include processing coaches separately from cars, with a new coach processing hall and kiosks to be built at the Western docks. This area will handle biometric registrations before passengers re-board their coaches for the ferry terminal. Cars will initially follow existing procedures but will eventually be redirected to a new processing area by next summer.
Eurostar at St Pancras: The station will double its border control points and install 49 new kiosks throughout the station. Modifications include converting a coffee shop near the entrance into a kiosk area and creating overflow zones on the mezzanine level.
Eurotunnel at Folkestone: The company is investing £70 million in building processing zones where passengers will queue in their cars to use automatic machines. Additionally, 70 new passenger assistance staff will be hired on each side of the Channel.
Managing Delays and Bottlenecks
Dover’s chief executive, Doug Bannister, emphasized the port’s efforts to minimize queues and congestion, particularly during busy periods. The process time for border controls is expected to increase from 45 to 90 seconds to a couple of minutes or more per person when registering for EES.
James Church, commercial manager of Roselyn Coaches, expressed concerns about the potential impact of additional delays on long-distance coach journeys and associated costs.
Eurostar and Eurotunnel Preparations
Simon Lejeune, Eurostar’s chief stations and security officer, assured that passengers would not need to arrive earlier than they currently do, despite the new requirements. Eurostar’s preparations include an £8.5 million investment in infrastructure and staffing.
Yann Leriche, Eurotunnel’s CEO, indicated that the additional time required for border controls would be offset by the new lanes and technology to prevent queues from extending onto roads.
Future Developments
The EU is developing an app to enable EES registration to begin at home, though it will not be ready by the system’s start date. A six-month transition period is expected, during which checks may be reduced if severe queues occur.
A UK government spokesperson confirmed ongoing collaboration with the EU and member states to minimize the impact at shared borders. They highlighted the involvement of the Kent Resilience Forum and other stakeholders in developing contingency plans to mitigate the risk of delays.
As the October deadline approaches, these comprehensive preparations aim to ensure a smooth transition to the new system and minimize disruption for travellers.