IZY
 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Franchise(s): | Wholly owned subsidiary of Thalys |
| Main stations(s): | Brussels-South, Paris-Gare du Nord |
| Stations called at: | 2 |
| Parent company: | Thalys |
| Website: | www.izy.com |
IZY (French pronunciation: [iˈzi]) is a low-cost high speed train service between Brussels and Paris. It is a brand of Thalys, which is jointly owned between the French and Belgian national rail companies SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%). It was announced on the 1st March 2016, and the first services started on 3rd April 2016.[1][2]
Background
Based on the popular Ouigo train service by SNCF, plus also the growing popularity of international coach services like Eurolines and Megabus & car pooling services like BlaBlaCar. Thalys considered starting their own low-cost service to compete with. Using a two TGV high speed trains sets leased from SNCF, they provide a up to three services per day.
Concept
The idea of service is based on low-cost airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet, they do this by the following;
- Tickets can only be bought on-line through a dedicated website izy.com or mobile app, not from ticket machines, ticket counters or through the regular Thalys website. They have to be bought a least 4 hours in advance of your journey. Four days before passengers travel, they receive a e-mail of the ticket which they print out at home or they use the mobile app to get a e-ticket, which consists of a QR code.[1]
- Similar to some low cost airlines, whilst a two pieces of hand luggage (maximum size, cabin baggage at 35 cm×55 cm×25 cm, and hand luggage at 27 cm×36 cm×15 cm ) is allowed free of charge, larger bags must be paid for.[1]
- The journey takes between 2 hours 8 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, while the regular Thalys service takes 1 hour 22 minutes. This is due to the fact that IZY trains use Paris–Lille railway between Paris and Arras, instead of the high-speed LGV Nord line. This allows IZY to pay lower track fees to SNCF Réseau.
- The trains carry fewer members of staff, which like the low-cost carriers are tasked as well to do basic maintenance of the train as well as serving passengers.
- Unlike Thalys services there is no wifi and individual power sockets are only available on Standard XL seats.
- Like some carriers, the only way you can contact the company is via their website. There is no customer service phone number or e-mail address, if you need to contact them, you use a webform.[3]
Pricing & Fees
In order to offer significantly lower prices than on standard Thalys trains, IZY trains lack a buffet car and have a greater number of more tightly packed seats. Standard adult fares called Standard which start from €19 single depending on the time of the journey and how far it is booked in advance. A premium service called Standard XL starts at €29 and offers a slightly bigger seat and a individual power socket. There are also two more lower costs options, a collapsible seat in the vestibule for as little as €15 and non-guaranteed seat option for as little as €10.[1] Thalys promises to charge no more than €59 for a ticket for Standard and €69 for Standard XL.
Supplementary fees are as follows:
- Children that are 10 or under, a flat fee of €10 is charged no matter the journey.[1]
- Baggage (per piece) is €10 if booked at the time of booking, €20 prior to travelling on-line, or €30 if purchased at the station immediately prior to travel.[1]
- Pets can be taken on board, however provided that they are in the carry case as part of the hand luggage they travel free. If not, they are charged a fee of €30 per animal, or €15 if they are booked at the same time as owner. Guide dogs are exempt from charges.
- An SMS information option for a supplementary fee of €2 per person.[1]
Rolling stock
IZY uses two dedicated TGV Réseau triple-voltage trainsets, number 4521 and 4551, painted in a white and green IZY livery.[4]
Stations
Unlike Ouigo, which uses secondary stations like Marne-la-Vallée for Paris and Tourcoing for Lille instead of Paris-Gare de Lyon and Lille-Europe. IZY uses the main train stations of Brussels-South and Paris-Gare du Nord like Thalys.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Thalys launched IZY: the new low-cost alternative between Brussels and Paris" (PDF). Izy. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "Inauguration of the first IZY train - Launch of the first low-cost train between Brussels and Paris" (PDF). Thalys. Thalys. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ↑ "IZY Webform". Izy. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "Thalys se lance dans le low cost". MobiliCités. Retrieved 3 March 2016.