By Emma Herrod
Passengers taking the Keisei Skyliner train that connects Tokyo’s Narita airport with the city centre Ueno Station can now make use of face biometric ticket gates to avoid having to queue up for a ticket.
To use the service, travellers need to register on Keisei Electric Railway’s website with a photograph of their face and pay for a ticket. A tablet on a stand by the gated barrier at the airport’s train station compares their face to the image, authenticates it and issues a ticket with a reserved seat number for the next train to Ueno.
The facial recognition system, which has been installed at terminals 1, 2 and 3 at the airport, as well as at Ueno and Nippori stations, is designed to reduce congestion on the transport link popular with international tourists.
“Smooth boarding without waiting in line after arriving at the airport can be expected,” an official from Keisei told Kyodo News.
Travellers who want to travel on a later train have to visit the ticket office.
