This article features an in-depth analysis of the most significant issues in the regionalisation process of railway competencies with the introduction of "tenders" to select the service providers. This analysis is carried out through the observation of the existing situation in a specific geographic area: the north-eastern part of Italy (comprising the regions of Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino Alto Adige). The results of the case study analysis lead to believe that the regional authorities themselves are interested in maintaining very good relationships with the incumbents over
the preparation of the tenders. Indeed, the incumbents may
provide the necessary support for the setting up of regional
companies, subject to local authority’s control, which seem to
be a long term implicit objective of the local authorities.
