Eurostar’s shrinking ambitions

[jon81uk]

I do wonder why the St. Pancras capacity was ever build on such a tight limit though - maybe we should revisit the factors that led to that situation?

I expect they never expected us to leave the EU and therefore need to stamp all passports.

 

[Wolfie]

I'm going to skip replying to all the political talk, because I don't want to take part in a fight about brexit.

On the infrastructure side, some people on this thread appear to have missed a more short term solution is being worked on; the arrivals area has been significantly reduced in size, which is possible as there's no need to queue for the UK border anymore due to the removal of the disneyland services. Last week it was clearly visible extra waiting space was placed for departures was there instead. If I remember correctly, on another thread @Bald Rick stated eurostar are planning to increase the number of border control lanes, and the number of french border officials present to increase capacity again.


I do wonder why the St. Pancras capacity was ever build on such a tight limit though - maybe we should revisit the factors that led to that situation?

I don't want to get into politics either but the answer to your last para is undoubtedly that we were inside the EU when the facility was planned.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2023 ==

I expect they never expected us to leave the EU and therefore need to stamp all passports.

Yup

 

[miami]

The most obvious solution is to join Schengen. You don't need to be in the EU to be part of Schengen (see Switzerland, Norway, Iceland etc). It would save a fortune. You could also get rid of the airport-style security checks, we don't need them on the London to Cardiff, why do you need them on London to Paris.

These actions would massively increase speed, capacity, save money, and allow more floor space to be leased to shops etc (thus raising even more money).

If you don't want that, then perhaps terminate some trains at Stratford? Or even just call there. You don't increase capacity at St Pancras but you do add capacity to the train.

It will cost more, but that's the price of sovereignty.

 

[jon81uk]

You could also get rid of the airport-style security checks, we don't need them on the London to Cardiff, why do you need them on London to Paris.

I think going through a major tunnel that could be a terrorism target is why there are checks, but I expect if someone really wanted to do something they would use Le Shuttle and drive on with it in their car.

 

[Trainbike46]

I expect they never expected us to leave the EU and therefore need to stamp all passports.

I don't want to get into politics either but the answer to your last para is undoubtedly that we were inside the EU when the facility was planned.

But way more services than currently running where at one point planned or considered, and this issue of terminal capacity would then have come up, just at higher passenger numbers

 

[AdamWW]

But way more services than currently running where at one point planned or considered, and this issue of terminal capacity would then have come up, just at higher passenger numbers

I don't know the timescales for any of this but perhaps at the point at which the St Pancras terminal was designed there was no expectation of significantly increased services - or it was when Waterloo was expected to remain in use for some Eurostar services.

Or maybe the idea of significantly expanded services didn't even outlast the time period when passport checks were done on the trains themselves.

 

[Krokodil]

The poster I quoted is blaming the UK government for French intransigence around passport checks. I’d be interested to know whether the same issue is mirrored for EU citizens entering the UK and if not why not.

For what it's worth, I've had no issues at French passport checks (whether at St Pancras or Gare du Nord). On at least one journey last year they started directing British citizens towards the e-gates with a French official stood behind them with the stamp.

Where I have experienced delays is at Brussels Midi, with the Belgian exit checks. Only three booths out of four in use, and Belgium's only e-gates are at Brussels Airport.

 

[43066]

No and the reason for this has been explained earlier in this thread.

And the reason was to do with Schengen requirements, not UK ones.

But in any case UK passports have to be stamped at all external Schengen borders at present so I still don't know in what way you think that Eurostar has been targetted for stricter border checks than elsewhere in the EU.

The eGates point for one. I’m sure a solution could easily have been found for fast tracking UK passport holders. Anywhere else in the world, without the toxic politics, it would have been!

On the infrastructure side, some people on this thread appear to have missed a more short term solution is being worked on; the arrivals area has been significantly reduced in size, which is possible as there's no need to queue for the UK border anymore due to the removal of the disneyland services. Last week it was clearly visible extra waiting space was placed for departures was there instead. If I remember correctly, on another thread @Bald Rick stated eurostar are planning to increase the number of border control lanes, and the number of french border officials present to increase capacity again.

What’s a little odd is how this is causing quite such a problem when St Pancras was designed for more cross channel services than it currently sees (see also how the domestic operators are squeezed into the sides, EMR in particular really struggle for platform space, while Eurostar dominate the station with more platforms than they need).

The most obvious solution is to join Schengen. You don't need to be in the EU to be part of Schengen (see Switzerland, Norway, Iceland etc). It would save a fortune. You could also get rid of the airport-style security checks, we don't need them on the London to Cardiff, why do you need them on London to Paris.

The channel tunnel would be closed and filled with concrete before that ever happened!

For what it's worth, I've had no issues at French passport checks (whether at St Pancras or Gare du Nord). On at least one journey last year they started directing British citizens towards the e-gates with a French official stood behind them with the stamp.

That’s sensible of them - let’s hope the new system when implemented removes the delays.

 

[LLivery]

To be honest, I sympathise with the idea the UK should be paying for at least some changes. The UK gov wanted to 'control borders', but then wants to shift the consequence of it onto third parties. It should be LCR or the Government footing the bill. Eurostar might want to contribute, that's up to them, but correct me if I'm wrong, but it's not Eurostar owned infra. I'm pretty sure airlines don't pay 100% of the cost to border changes at airports, so why should Eurostar front the costs? Especially as the government is talking about wanting competition. 'Eurostar, pay to improve the border, and make it easier for competitors!' - good luck with that.

If the government wants to push back the headache of Heathrow expansion further, then they'd do well to remember 11m people were using Eurostar before Covid, and this can be doubled.

Who exactly is moaning? If you read back it the whole complaint appears to be a thinly veiled criticism of Brexit. Most moaning I’ve heard over the past few years comes from the remain side, speaking of a failure to suck it up!

If the EUs approach is causing issues (clearly they don’t police all their borders so effectively, or even at all, so one wonders why Eurostar is such a target) I suspect the problem will continue until someone comes up with the money to improve it. It shouldn’t be the UK taxpayer, as suggested upthread.



How is pointing out that the issue is with the French side UK exceptionalism?

We are physically located twenty miles from France and its been possible to travel by train between the two countries for thirty years, so arrangements could easily have been made that involve UK passport holders not being treated in the same way as people from the other side of the world.

I agree, it could be, but the UK government chose not to have that, when they went for the hardest Brexit they could achieve that was not WTO. That's not moaning about Brexit, it's reality. We're either a 3rd country, or Switzerland style, or Norway style. That's the only options. One has to have stamps, the others don't. Mixing and matching with the EU was over the day leave got their way.

It’s clear that French passports checks on UK citizens are causing the issues being complained about, the problem is their side of the fence, not the other way around. French citizens do not seemingly face the same problems coming the other way.

I’m sure it could easily have been solved but no great surprise it hasn’t been, we all know the French absolutely loath the British, and have always done so, and the feeling is generally mutual!

The UK doesn't stamp, but we also not implementing customs checks (yet, if ever) at borders because they're woefully ill-prepared and I suspect the government would be woefully ill-prepared for passport stamps too, hence the wide increase in E-Gates. They wouldn't have the staff. As soon as E-Gates go down in airports it's chaos.

 

[urbophile]

I think going through a major tunnel that could be a terrorism target is why there are checks, but I expect if someone really wanted to do something they would use Le Shuttle and drive on with it in their car.

Quite. There would still have to be checks on luggage, as there were before Brexit, and as there are in many public buildings such as museums. That's a separate matter from passport checks, but these do add to the time needed.

 

[43066]

The UK gov wanted to 'control borders', but then wants to shift the consequence of it onto third parties.

But the consequence being discussed is entirely on the French side!

We're either a 3rd country, or Switzerland style, or Norway style. That's the only options. One has to have stamps, the others don't. Mixing and matching with the EU was over the day leave got their way.

You’re describing the EU’s own practice as if it’s a set in stone reality rather than a choice. They don’t have to have stamps, that’s their chosen approach. They could have chosen to adapt their approach to the UK and specifically to Eurostar.

The UK doesn't stamp, but we also not implementing customs checks (yet, if ever) at borders because they're woefully ill-prepared and I suspect the government would be woefully ill-prepared for passport stamps too, hence the wide increase in E-Gates. They wouldn't have the staff. As soon as E-Gates go down in airports it's chaos.

So if the UK doesn’t stamp, why is it so important for France to stamp UK passports? It strikes me the UK is taking a reasonable and pragmatic approach to the change in circumstances, yet are being criticised for issues on the French side.

 

[Bald Rick]

The channel tunnel would be closed and filled with concrete before that ever happened!

Oh I don’t know. I can see it happening. Not in the next few years, but in a decade or two.

 

[zwk500]

But the consequence being discussed is entirely on the French side!

You’re describing the EU’s own practice as if it’s a set in stone reality rather than a choice. They don’t have to have stamps, that’s their chosen approach. They could have chosen to adapt their approach to the UK and specifically to Eurostar.

So if the UK doesn’t stamp, why is it so important for France to stamp UK passports? It strikes me the UK is taking a reasonable and pragmatic approach to the change in circumstances, yet are being criticised for issues on the French side.

What reason has HMG given the EU to look the other way? Giving the UK what it wants after it's gone and dug itself a hole is against the EU's interests.
Also to not do checks on Schengen involves getting agreement from the entire area and there are a number of countries that have no interest in helping UK citizens out.

 

[Tester]

Oh I don’t know. I can see it happening. Not in the next few years, but in a decade or two.

I'm rather hoping that it isn't the concrete you are expecting

 

[miami]

Quite. There would still have to be checks on luggage, as there were before Brexit, and as there are in many public buildings such as museums. That's a separate matter from passport checks, but these do add to the time needed.

But not the throughput, the bottleneck doesn't seem to be the scans, its just a pointless theft of 10 minutes. If I wanted to cause a statement, leaving a suitcase with a large bomb on the train going into waterloo would be trivial, let alone one on the tube (or other train line) under the Thames.

Then there's the case I can't take my toolbox on the tunnel because I'm not allowed to take a drill.

The capacity problem is due to sovereignty, but the airport style security is just because we can't have people thinking taking the train is nicer than flying.

 

[bspahh]

You’re describing the EU’s own practice as if it’s a set in stone reality rather than a choice. They don’t have to have stamps, that’s their chosen approach. They could have chosen to adapt their approach to the UK and specifically to Eurostar.

Last month, I queued for 45 minutes to get my passport stamped at Munich airport. A Canadian colleague was able to use the electronic gates and was through in minute or two.

It would have been possible for the UK to negotiate a similar arrangement, but that takes time, work and good will from both sides.

 

[43066]

Oh I don’t know. I can see it happening. Not in the next few years, but in a decade or two.

I wonder whether that’s a double entendre and means freight trains carrying concrete (or similar).

What reason has HMG given the EU to look the other way? Giving the UK what it wants after it's gone and dug itself a hole is against the EU's interests.
Also to not do checks on Schengen involves getting agreement from the entire area and there are a number of countries that have no interest in helping UK citizens out.

Surely the grown up, sensible approach is to put politics to one side and recognise that it’s in both parties’ interests for border crossings to work smoothly in both directions. In this case it’s particularly ironic the problem is coming from the French, when they’re having the cheek to dump their illegal migration problem on us, and when Eurostar is a majority French owned entity!

I’d much rather the grown up approach be taken by both sides but, as alluded to above, if they’re going to get petty, perhaps the solution is to delay continental passengers by an equal amount? Alternatively (and most likely) we just suffer the delays until the EU gets its own house in order.

Last month, I queued for 45 minutes to get my passport stamped at Munich airport. A Canadian colleague was able to use the electronic gates and was through in minute or two.

It would have been possible for the UK to negotiate a similar arrangement, but that takes time, work and good will from both sides.

So it seems the Schengen zone can cope without stamping passports of Canadians entering Germany. Why then can’t it cope without needlessly delaying Brits using the Eurostar? It’s yet more evidence that the EU is trying to punish the UK. I’m afraid it really just underlines why so many of us feel we were right to leave in the first place.

 

[philg999]

This thread has turned into a super-tedious ‘oh yes it has!’ ‘Oh no it hasn’t!’ pantomime type discussion which has been rotting the political discourse for 7 years and feels like it will never ever end. Can someone switch off commenting before I have to poke my eyes out with spikes?

 

[duncanp]

So it seems the Schengen zone can cope without stamping passports of Canadians entering Germany. Why then can’t it cope without needlessly delaying Brits using the Eurostar? It’s yet more evidence that the EU is trying to punish the UK. I’m afraid it really just underlines why so many of us feel we were right to leave in the first place.

Absolutely.

If the Schengen zone doesn't require the stamping of passports of Canadian citizens, why does it require UK passports to be stamped?

 

[philg999]

Absolutely.

If the Schengen zone doesn't require the stamping of passports of Canadian citizens, why does it require UK passports to be stamped?

It *does* require the stamping of Canadian passports! And US passports, Australian passports, NX passports, Singaporean passports. Japanese passports.. and British passports. If there isn’t a stamp then the person is in the EU illegally unless they have a residence permit.

 

[duncanp]

It *does* require the stamping of Canadian passports! And US passports, Australian passports, NX passports, Singaporean passports. Japanese passports.. and British passports. If there isn’t a stamp then the person is in the EU illegally unless they have a residence permit.

Well then why does it allow Canadian citizens to use the e-gates, but not UK citizens?

 

[Wolfie]

Well then why does it allow Canadian citizens to use the e-gates, but not UK citizens?

Perhaps the Canadian government negotiated constructively with the EU Commission rather than just trying to demand their own way? Probably many more Brits going into the Schengen Zone too.

 

[Chester1]

Punish the UK for leaving? I doubt that.

Not prepared to allow UK to have the benefits with none of the obligations? Absolutely. That's why Starmer claiming that he will achieve a better deal is a joke.....

There was definitely a punishment element early on when there was a risk of additional members leaving. I agree with your assessment about the current situation that it is a fair implementation by both sides of entry rules for EUs third countries and British rule for non Brits and non Irish travellers. Its not a major problem apart from at three very constrained sites in UK. If Gare du Nord had less processing space then French travelers would be making the same complaints.

The St Pancras situation is very much a "first world problem" and will be resolved relatively quickly. Its essentially irrelevant as soon as the Amsterdam services are cut back to Brussels temporarily next year.

But the consequence being discussed is entirely on the French side!



You’re describing the EU’s own practice as if it’s a set in stone reality rather than a choice. They don’t have to have stamps, that’s their chosen approach. They could have chosen to adapt their approach to the UK and specifically to Eurostar.



So if the UK doesn’t stamp, why is it so important for France to stamp UK passports? It strikes me the UK is taking a reasonable and pragmatic approach to the change in circumstances, yet are being criticised for issues on the French side.

The UK doesn't stamp most passports because we have one electronic border control system and only share a travel area with Republic of Ireland and our two systems are linked. Having one electronic system recording entry and having our own + Irish API data for exits allows us to have a large number of third country citizens to use e gates. Every nation in Schengen has their own border system and they are not connected therefore a physical record of entry and exit is required. EES will (along with other features) create one system recording all entries and exits that all Schengen members will use, removing the need for a physical record on passports. Until EES is launched without a record on your passport a border force officer in one Schengen country would not know if you were sticking to limits on visa free travel if you have visited other members. This was irrelevant when we were in the EU because we could live there. Some Schengen members allow Brits to use e gates but its a bit pointless for Brits who are not residents need to queue for stamps. More Schengen members are likely allow British Citizens to use e gates once EEA and ETIAS launch.

I wonder whether that’s a double entendre and means freight trains carrying concrete (or similar).



Surely the grown up, sensible approach is to put politics to one side and recognise that it’s in both parties’ interests for border crossings to work smoothly in both directions. In this case it’s particularly ironic the problem is coming from the French, when they’re having the cheek to dump their illegal migration problem on us, and when Eurostar is a majority French owned entity!

I’d much rather the grown up approach be taken by both sides but, as alluded to above, if they’re going to get petty, perhaps the solution is to delay continental passengers by an equal amount? Alternatively (and most likely) we just suffer the delays until the EU gets its own house in order.



So it seems the Schengen zone can cope without stamping passports of Canadians entering Germany. Why then can’t it cope without needlessly delaying Brits using the Eurostar? It’s yet more evidence that the EU is trying to punish the UK. I’m afraid it really just underlines why so many of us feel we were right to leave in the first place.

Absolutely.

If the Schengen zone doesn't require the stamping of passports of Canadian citizens, why does it require UK passports to be stamped?

Is there anything on an official website etc saying that Canadians don't require stamps?

Well then why does it allow Canadian citizens to use the e-gates, but not UK citizens?

The problem with letting people that require stamps to use e gates is that they then need to get a stamp, making it almost pointless. They might as well queue up to see a person. Most Schengen governments will be waiting for EES before making a decision on letting British Citizens use e gates. I guess more countries e.g. Germany could copy Portugal but EES has been about to launch for a long time. With hind sight most of the EU could have changed their procedures for Brits to allow E gate use in January 2021 but EES was supposedly going to launch following year and the benefit would have been extremely marginal. They could do it now but its disruption for a very small gain and EES is expected to be launched next summer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2023 ==

Perhaps the Canadian government negotiated constructively with the EU Commission rather than just trying to demand their own way? Probably many more Brits going into the Schengen Zone too.

Use of e gates is a national government competency, subject to the limitations of Schengen rules. The government has only recently taken up the issue and it seems to be prioritising securing access to e gates once EES launches.

 

[Wolfie]

@Chester1 TY for the considered response which l generally agree.

I am in the lucky position that my next passport won't be British (and nor will my daughter's).

I was a dual citizen (UK and Ireland) from the day l was born and have every intention of taking advantage of that fact. Not my decision so l have no intention of suffering consequences that l can avoid.

 

[zwk500]

Surely the grown up, sensible approach is to put politics to one side and recognise that it’s in both parties’ interests for border crossings to work smoothly in both directions. In this case it’s particularly ironic the problem is coming from the French, when they’re having the cheek to dump their illegal migration problem on us, and when Eurostar is a majority French owned entity!

Since when has politics been about the grown up sensible approach? The EU's priority now is to prevent any other member states leaving, and therefore it's in their best interests to be as awkward as possible.
Also, the immigration problem is not the French's but the world's, and it is frankly disgraceful the way the UK is trying to wash it's hands of the whole issue.

I’d much rather the grown up approach be taken by both sides but, as alluded to above, if they’re going to get petty, perhaps the solution is to delay continental passengers by an equal amount? Alternatively (and most likely) we just suffer the delays until the EU gets its own house in order.

We could do that, but it'll hurt our economy proportionally more than being awkward to the UK hurts the EU economy.

 

[sor]

but we also not implementing customs checks (yet, if ever) at borders because they're woefully ill-prepared

Yep. I was surprised to see no real customs presence when I got off at StP in April. Even when you walk past the customs area there was no one to be found. What would you do if you did have something to declare and wanted to be honest?

At least on the way out, at Brussels, Belgian customs had a few officers standing around to give the arrivees a visual once over - probably to spot anyone who looks like they've got something to hide.

 

[bspahh]

Is there anything on an official website etc saying that Canadians don't require stamps?

This is from Munich airport https://www.munich-airport.com/automated-passport-control-1028169

EasyPASS​

Eligible travelers are persons from the age of 12 with citizenship:

• from the European Union
• from the European Economic Area
• Switzerland

You can use EasyPASS without prior registration.

In addition, travelers from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, Taiwan, UAE (United Arab Emirates) and the US currently benefit from EasyPASS: At Terminal 1 (Departures B and C, level 05), Terminal 2 (northern facility) and Terminal 2 satellite (level 05) are undergoing trial operation, in which also passport holders from above can use the facility without prior registration and only when leaving..

https://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/Service/FAQ/faq_node.html says:

As a third-country national you will see a stamp symbol after face recognition. You will proceed to the police officer behind the eGate who will stamp your passport.

so Canadians still get a passport stamp. However, it doesn't mean standing in a queue for 45 minutes

 

[AdamWW]

The St Pancras situation is very much a "first world problem" and will be resolved relatively quickly. Its essentially irrelevant as soon as the Amsterdam services are cut back to Brussels temporarily next year.

Why is that? Won't the trains likely still be carrying the same numbers?
And do we know that they won't go back to running direct to Amsterdam but requiring a change on the way back as they did originally?

(I just had to check that I wasn't going off topic for discussing Eurostar service patterns there, given the direction that this thread has taken...)

Otherwise, thanks from me too for your detailed response, though I suspect that those who haven't taken in previous explanations for why we don't stamp EU passports and they stamp ours might find their own interpretation of what you said that reinforces their views.

 

[Chester1]

@Chester1 TY for the considered response which l generally agree.

I am in the lucky position that my next passport won't be British (and nor will my daughter's).

I was a dual citizen (UK and Ireland) from the day l was born and have every intention of taking advantage of that fact. Not my decision so l have no intention of suffering consequences that l can avoid.

Personally I don't see much benefit to having a EU passport because I am not prepared to become fluent in a second European language. I don't like people not speaking the language of the country they live in and wouldn't do that myself. UK still has freedom of movement with Ireland and no other country in EU and EEA speaks English as their first language. If I was eligible for another citizenship I would probably get the paperwork done but I am not sure I would bother paying for a passport for very marginal benefit at the border once its fully electronic. I am guessing its about €100?

If the government is going to try to do mobility agreements I would prefer more Australian style visa deals with other English speaking countries. Youth mobility visas age has been extended from 30 to 35 and time to 3 annual visas. The previous limitations on work and the requirement to do farm work to stay a second year have been lifted. Brits are also being extempted from the labour market test for skilled workers (we will still need to meet all the other requirements but its a useful advantage over other foreigners). I wouldn't oppose a similar deal with the EU but its not of much interest to me either. Visa deals wouldn't change border formalities for visitors.

Since when has politics been about the grown up sensible approach? The EU's priority now is to prevent any other member states leaving, and therefore it's in their best interests to be as awkward as possible.
Also, the immigration problem is not the French's but the world's, and it is frankly disgraceful the way the UK is trying to wash it's hands of the whole issue.

We could do that, but it'll hurt our economy proportionally more than being awkward to the UK hurts the EU economy.

The risk of other member states leaving was a major factor in the strict line taken after the referendum but its gone now. The big consideration for the EU and to a lesser extent for the UK is not making agreements with each other that they are not prepared to offer to other comparable third countries e.g Canada or Australia. This does provide some flexibility but within limitations of not seperating the EUs 4 freedoms. I would be very surprised if Brits can't use e gates throughout Schengen once EES has settled in. Maybe one or two governments might not allow it. I guess potentially the EU could include British Citizens in EES but not ETIAS and the UK could carve out the corresponding elements in our border systems to reciprocate. Its something both sides could plausibly offer to other rich third countries. However, I doubt there is any interest in waiving biometric enrollment of foreign citizens. It will be extremely useful for law enforcment authorities on both sides of the channel.

This is from Munich airport https://www.munich-airport.com/automated-passport-control-1028169

https://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/Service/FAQ/faq_node.html says:

so Canadians still get a passport stamp. However, it doesn't mean standing in a queue for 45 minutes

Very few entries into Schengen post brexit take 45 minutes. I suspect its not ill feeling but simply that its worth adding a huge number of people to the Easy Pass system when its about to be replaced by EES. There will be operational problems because Brits probably account for more arrivals in Germany than all that list of countries put together. If EU member states had known in 2020 that EES wasn't goint to launch until late 2024 at the earliest they may have made different decisions but they keep being told its about one year away.

Why is that? Won't the trains likely still be carrying the same numbers?
And do we know that they won't go back to running direct to Amsterdam but requiring a change on the way back as they did originally?

(I just had to check that I wasn't going off topic for discussing Eurostar service patterns there, given the direction that this thread has taken...)

Otherwise, thanks from me too for your detailed response, though I suspect that those who haven't taken in previous explanations for why we don't stamp EU passports and they stamp ours might find their own interpretation of what you said that reinforces their views.

I would guess that some extra London - Brussels tickets will be sold but there will still be fewer passengers during the work. The Rotterdam and Amsterdam stops have been quite popular and changing trains won't have same appeal. Selling many additonal Brussels tickets might only be possible by significantly reducing prices and therefore may not be cost effective. I think that they are just cutting the service completely between Brussels and Amsterdam. The plans seem to be up in the air still. A quick google indicates the cut back will be June 2024 to January 2025, with potential to extend to May 2025. If EES and ETIAS launch in August 2024 they should have settled in and had a large number of Brits registered by January 2025 and certainly by May 2025.

This whole thread can be explained by every company and government involved chosing to muddle through until EES launches rather than spend money and resources on making temporary changes. The US ESTA launched in 2007 and Canada and Australia have had their systems in place for a few years too. Frankly both UK and Schengen should have had biometric checks and pre authorisation of third countries nationals long before the referendum. It would have then simply been a case of switching each others citizens onto the systems when the transition period ended on 1st January 2021. UK is launching UK ETA 16 years after its US equivalent, and the EU 17 years after!

 

[KGX]

Anyone new to Eurostar reading this (& wider press) would be forgiven for thinking that Eurostar was basically walk-on pre 2020. It certainly wasn't in my experience & standing in long queues, particularly at Gare du Nord was very common. Bruxelles Midi was also a crappy experience. St Pancras queues... also a thing. Granted, the queues may be worse, but it certainly wasn't queue free before.