AutoBorder workshop at Eurotunnel — Coquelles
On 27 May 2026, AutoBorder consortium partners joined Getlink's operational teams at the Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles for a full working day that combined structured discussion with a hands-on visit to the terminal itself.
The aim was to move beyond abstract planning: to align both sides on the AutoBorder vision and to ground it in the physical and operational reality of one of Europe's busiest land Border Crossing Points. The site visit was an integral part of the day. Walking the terminal, observing freight trucks proceeding to check-in, coaches managing group documentation, and passenger cars moving through the rapid boarding process, gave the whole team a shared reference point that no slide deck could replace.
Participants saw firsthand how dense and time-sensitive the flow is, and how any technological intervention will have to fit around a process that is already finely tuned.That context shaped every conversation that followed.
The workshop brought AutoBorder partners and Getlink staff into the same room to think through the project's practical implications at this specific site. Discussions covered the feasibility constraints for in-vehicle identification across three very different vehicle categories - freight trucks, coaches, and passenger cars - each of which poses distinct challenges in terms of document handling, group composition, and processing time.
A significant part of the conversation focused on how AutoBorder's operational model, built around pre-registration of travellers and in-vehicle verification, could integrate with Getlink's existing process without creating new pressure points. This required Getlink's operational teams to be genuine contributors to the design, not just recipients of a proposal. The discussion on infrastructure footprint, device deployment, and secure communications was shaped as much by their knowledge of the terminal as by the project's technical specifications.The conversation then moved to pilot planning, which is, at this stage, the heart of the matter. AutoBorder is currently in the pre-design phase: the immediate priority is not to deploy technology but to define the right scenarios, capture the constraints that any pilot must respect, and establish the prerequisites that make a trial meaningful without placing any burden on live operations. This is co-creation in the proper sense: building shared understanding between project partners and operational teams before any pilot design is finalised, so that what gets tested actually reflects how the site works.
Co-creation, however, goes beyond internal consultations. One of the defining principles of AutoBorder is that the people who cross borders every day (drivers, coach passengers, frequent travellers) are not just the end-users of whatever system emerges, but crucial and genuine contributors to its design.
The final part of the day focused exactly on this topic: how to reach those travellers, listen to them, and bring their perspective into the AutoBorder work. A survey for drivers and passengers, accessible during the shuttle transit via QR code or direct link, is being finalised and will be deployed shortly.
Follow the project to be among the first to know when it launches and, if you travel through Eurotunnel, to take part.The full AutoBorder consortium convenes in plenary on 2–3 June 2026. The conversations started at Coquelles on pilot design, operational integration, and traveller engagement, will be taken forward there, as the project moves steadily from co-design to action.