New passport office opens

London's new passport office in Victoria is officially opened today in a revamp designed to end the misery for people queuing around the block when they need urgent replacement travel documents.

The new office at Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square opened this morning by Home Secretary David Blunkett, has the capacity to issue 5,000 passports a week to personal callers.

But instead of the old first-come first-served system which operated at the Petty France office and often left last-minute travellers queuing in the rain, callers make appointments and can expect the whole process to take no more than 45 minutes. The Passport Office relocation began in June last year and it has now moved in completely - more than 62,000 passports have already been issued.

Anyone who needs a passport in less than two weeks or who wants to make a non-urgent application in person rather than by post can make an appointment through the United Kingdom Passport Service Adviceline on 0870 521 0410.

The office is open Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 6.45pm for appointments and remains open until 9pm for collections. It is also open on Saturdays from 9.15am to 3.15pm and until 3.30pm for collections. There is a photo booth on site.

The passport system almost ground to a halt in 1999 when problems with a new computer system slowed applications and prompted a summer panic as people queued for new papers. Ministers were embarrassed by pictures of the long queues and at one stage officials had to provide umbrellas, while £1.25 luncheon vouchers were handed out as "compensation" to all those arriving at Petty France.