While much of the debate surrounding the expansion of direct passenger services between London and continental Europe has focused on changes to Channel Tunnel safety rules, the stringent security and immigration checks required by the UK government could also impose considerable complexity and cost.rnAs the UK is not a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, passport checks would be mandatory for all passengers travelling in either direction, even those travelling between stations within the Schengen area - as is the case for Eurostar passengers between Lille and Brussels, for example. But as part of the bi-lateral agreementrnbetween the British and French governments in 2004 which led to the closure of the Sangatte detention centre near Calais, UK Border Agency staff are posted at all departure points in France and Belgium to ensure passengers' entry documents are verified before they arrive in Britain.
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