A passenger uses the face recognition self-service technology to check in at Beijing West Railway Station, Nov 11, 2016. [Photo/IC]

Debut of face recognition technology

About 140,000 to 180,000 passengers have used the self-service check-in system since face recognition technology was rolled out at Beijing West Railway Station at the end of November. According to a railway official, the application of this technology means it takes only five seconds for each passenger to check in.

Such technology is also being used in other railway stations.

Passengers simply need to insert their ticket, along with their second-generation ID card into a checking machine, and face the camera for a few seconds to get into the station. As long as all the information matches, the gate will open, and passengers can then take their tickets and ID cards back.

The system has been widely welcomed as it saves times, said chinanews.com quoting travelers.

And face recognition check-in system is now in service from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm, but it will be operated longer depending on the passenger flow during the Spring Festival travel rush.

The old, red tickets without a magnetic strip, along with tickets for students, disabled people, soldiers and children cannot be used in the self-service machine. Passengers who are shorter than 1.2 meters or taller than 1.9 meters are also unable to use the system at present.

Passengers also have to take off their hats, glasses or anything else that obscures their features and might prevent the "scanning" of their faces.