The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, expressed concern on Saturday about possible chaos at St Pancras station as the new EU entry and exit control system comes into force.
From the end of 2024, third-country nationals entering the European Union will be subject to an automated entry and exit control system (Entry/Exit System, EES).
That centralized database will contain passenger photos and fingerprints.
Last month, the British parliamentary committee warned of significant delays that could reach up to 14 hours, which could be caused by the EES system at the borders. This particularly applies to London’s St Pancras station, where Eurostar trains operate.
“As things stand, these new post-Brexit controls will cause chaos at St Pancras, with reduced services and potentially huge queues for passengers at peak times,” the Labor mayor of London said on Saturday.
He urged the government to “not wash its hands” of this “direct consequence of Brexit” which could send a “terrible signal to tourists and businesses around the world”, while London’s economy is barely recovering from the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic.
The railway company Eurostar believes that the new system is designed more for airports than for train terminals.
The City of London says St Pancras station will only be able to have 24 EES control desks “while modeling suggests almost 50 would be needed during peak hours”, Hina news agency writes.
