The French contract practices in the urban public transport of passengers. The tactical level or a French paradox

In a framework of changes in the public transport organisation in Europe, this report deals with the contracts practices in the urban public transport of passengers in France. The master thesis focuses in particular on the French specificities, notably the allocation of the tactical responsibilities (service design and characteristics). It appears an inadequation of the trends in France; more and more risks borne by the operators, and less and less of breathing space (contracts are more and more detailed, letting very few adaptations possible during the contract life). This report tries to analyse the reasons of such a paradox and tries to see how it could get balanced.