Loading AI tools
Low-cost European train service From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Izy (French pronunciation: [iˈzi]) was a low-cost train service between Brussels and Paris. Services started on 3 April 2016,[1][2] and ended on 10 July 2022.[3][4]
| |
 An Izy train at Paris-Gare du Nord in March 2017 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train |
| Status | Defunct |
| Locale | France Belgium |
| First service | 3 April 2016 |
| Last service | 10 July 2022 |
| Current operator(s) | Thalys |
| Website | www.izy.com |
| Route | |
| Termini | Brussels-South Paris-Gare du Nord |
| Average journey time | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Service frequency | 4 per week |
| Line(s) used | Paris–Lille railway |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | TGV Réseau |
Based on the Ouigo train service by SNCF, Thalys began its own low-cost service to compete with international coach services such as Eurolines and Megabus, and car pooling services such as BlaBlaCar. At its peak, Izy operated up to three services per day using two TGV high speed train sets leased from SNCF. Since 2020, Izy operated only four return trips between Friday and Monday.
The model of the service was based on low-cost airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet, having the following features:
In order to offer significantly lower prices than on standard Thalys trains, Izy trains lacked a buffet car and had a greater number of more tightly packed seats. Standard adult fares started from €19 single depending on the time of the journey and how far it was booked in advance. A premium service named Standard XL started at €29 and offered a slightly larger seat and an individual power socket. There were also two lower costs options, a collapsible seat in the vestibule for as little as €15 and a non-guaranteed seat option for as little as €10.[1] Thalys promised to charge no more than €59 for a ticket for Standard and €69 for Standard XL.
Supplementary fees were as follows:
Izy used a dedicated TGV Réseau triple-voltage trainset, number 4551, painted in a silver, white and green IZY livery with purple doors.[6]
In 2019, this was replaced by a former Eurostar Class 373/TGV TMST, formed with half-trainsets 373213 and 373224.[7][8][9] The Izy livery on this set used white instead of silver paint and features more purple.
Since 2021, Izy trains were operated with conventional Thalys PBA/PBKA rolling stock.[10]
Izy used the main train stations of Brussels-South and Paris-Gare du Nord, in comparison to Ouigo, which serves secondary stations such as Marne-la-Vallée for Paris, and Tourcoing, which is near Lille. However, the Izy service did not use the same rail line as Thalys, but rather conventional older rail lines. For this reason it was more at risk of delays caused by other trains or factors on the rail system than the dedicated Thalys high speed line.
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
