MOSCOW, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia has launched a pilot program for biometric verification of boarding passengers across its rail network, local media reported on Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko announced the rollout of the new Migom service at the 6th annual International Data Fusion Conference, which is taking place in Moscow from Wednesday to Thursday, RIA Novosti reported.

The service is currently operational on high-speed rail lines managed by Russian Railways, connecting Moscow with Kostroma, Ivanovo, and Nizhny Novgorod, said Grigorenko, adding that successful testing will lead to the expansion of the program to more routes.

To access the service, citizens must first confirm their biometric data through an authorized bank or on-site registration and provide explicit consent for the processing of personal data.

While passengers in the pilot phase must still carry a valid ID matching their ticket details, Grigorenko said they have the option to use biometric verification instead of presenting a physical passport. ■