E-ticketing to speed up Eurostar boarding

Online barcoding and integration of booking systems boosts the train operator's network

Eurostar is introducing mobile-enabled tickets at London's St Pancras

Eurostar is introducing print-at-home and mobile-enabled barcode tickets to speed up boarding on its international trains.

The gates at the newly-opened terminal at London’s St Pancras International are already equipped with scanning devices, and customers booking online will be able to use the service from the middle of this year.

“The scheme is one of a number of customer service initiatives designed to make the whole travelling experience for passengers as easy as possible,” said head of distribution and commercial systems Jamel Chandoul.

Eurostar is also integrating its booking system with those of operators on the domestic UK network, so national and international trips no longer need to be ordered separately.

Seven companies ­ Chiltern Railways, East Midlands Trains, First Capital Connect, Hull Trains, London Midland, National Express East Coast and Virgin Trains ­ are linked to the system, following a project by supplier Fujitsu.

Travellers from 68 towns and cities across the UK can order through-tickets to destinations in France, Belgium and Holland. And by 2009, the operator will aim to add Germany, Switzerland and Austria to its network.

“With the new ticketing system many people can now book their entire journey from their local mainline station to continental Europe through one joined-up service,” said Chandoul.

Ultimately all the 25 members of the UK’s Association of Train Operating Companies will be invited to join the scheme. A second wave of operators, including Great First Western and East Anglia, are expected to be added by the end of the year.

Last year Chiltern Railways implemented a similar mobile phone ticketing system at London’s Marylebone station.