Eurostar's electronic barcodes in the making

The train operator is developing a web-based system to supplement its electronic ticketing

Electronic barcodes will mean faster boarding, says Eurostar

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

Customers booking online will benefit from the service from mid-2008.

The gates at Eurostar's new terminal St Pancras International are already equipped with scanning devices.

A similar system has already been implemented at London's Marylebone station last year, where Chiltern Railways is testing its own mobile phone ticketing scheme.

The news follow Eurostar's announcement that it will consolidate its booking system with the UK train network, to allow passengers to book entire journeys from the UK into continental destinations including France, Belgium and The Netherlands.