Antitrust flags management failures at EAV rail services

The Italian Competition Authority (Antitrust) has flagged significant management failures at Ente Autonomo Volturno (EAV), the Campania Region-owned company managing the Circumvesuviana and Flegree rail lines. In a report published in August 2026, the Authority described a state of “strong management criticality,” noting that kilometer production has dropped by 29.8% compared to the financial plan.

The investigation highlights a decline in service quality alongside rising costs. While passenger numbers have decreased by 5 million compared to 2019 levels, average ticket prices have risen by more than 30%. User satisfaction has reached lows due to overcrowding, poor cleanliness, and lack of comfort. Specific operational issues include widespread delays—with 44.3% of trains delayed by over five minutes in 2025—and a significant number of service cancellations.

The Authority has called on the Campania Region, as the sole shareholder, to prioritize oversight and address these issues within thirty days. This comes as the company operates under an emergency extension of its service contract until December 31, 2026, following the expiration of its previous agreement. The situation is further complicated by new 2025 competition laws that require public entities to demonstrate efficiency to maintain in-house management.