Strategic business consulting for the railway and logistics industry

SCI Verkehr is a medium-sized, sustainability-oriented consultancy focussing on strategic issues in the international rail and logistics business. We support our business partners in optimising their processes and evaluating their assets. We help to analyse markets and develop sustainable and tailor-made strategies for the future. This includes, among other things: Accompanying M&A activities, realising climate targets, optimising the portfolio or existing processes, and opening up new markets and business areas.

Strategic Management Consultancy Examples

Supporting outsourcing planning

Customer: Luxury foods manufacturer

A leading company in the luxury foods industry is planning to reorganise its distribution process, which it has performed itself with its own sites and vehicles up to now. The company now intends to contract these services to a logistics service provider (outsourcing). SCI Verkehr is checking the concept put together by the customer internally for plausibility and is giving useful advice for the further negotiations with the service provider.

Locomotive markets and investment strategy

Customer: Leasing company

SCI Verkehr analysed the development of supply and demand for mainline locomotives in Europe. Moreover, SCI Verkehr analysis the impact of new ETCS regulations in the locomotive market in order to derive a strategy for future investment in new assets.

Market study freight wagon leasing

Customer: Infrastructure fund

On behalf of a leading investment company, SCI Verkehr compiled a market study of freight wagon leasing in Europe. This study is used as a basis for a business strategy. Besides a market overview, synergy effects and the economic consequences of the German rail freight master plan are presented.

Market Analyses Examples

Market analysis "Prospects in the Worldwide Market for Rolling Stock"

Customer: Internationally active component manufacturer

SCI Verkehr analysed and assessed the current and prospective dynamics in the market regions and portfolio segments of a globally active component manufacturer. Within the scope of a management workshop, SCI Verkehr derived and defined the sustainable and international potential for growth and strategic options.

Competitive analysis rolling stock components

Customer: Asian component manufacturer

On behalf of an Asian manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analyses the competitive landscape of the global market for rolling stock door systems.

Figures and ownership structures of passenger transport operators

Customer: Financial investor

For improving its acquisition and sales performance, a financial service provider specialised in the railway segment needs more market transparency in local rail passenger transport. SCI Verkehr elaborated an overview of the 50 most important passenger transport operators in Europe, its key figures and ownership structures.

Asset Valuations Examples

Continuous evaluation of a rail vehicle portfolio

Customer: Refinancing credit institution

A refinancing credit institution commissioned SCI Verkehr for initial and subsequent valuations for an extensive rolling stock portfolio in Europe and North America. The results of the calculation were used internally at the client for the assessment of credit risks. In addition to the semi-annual portfolio valuation according to IVS 2020, SCI Verkehr supported the client at regular intervals at short notice with additional market analyses and expert discussions.

Determining residual value of a railcar fleet

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr determines the residual value of different types of rolling stock of a railcar fleet. Hereby, possibilities of reusing as well as options to modernise the rolling stock are assessed.

Vehicle assessment for rail freight fleet

Customer: Rolling stock owner

On behalf of a rolling stock owner, SCI Verkehr determined the current value of a rail freight fleet. The value assessment of these vehicles, which are operated on the Iberian peninsula, was based on the cost-based DRC approach, and considered the results of a supply and demand analysis for locomotives and freight wagons.

Public Consulting Examples

Cost/Benefit analysis of interoperability

Customer: European Union

SCI Verkehr will carry out a cost-benefit analysis for the EU to evaluate the economic effects of interoperability guidelines for conventional transport. In particular, the consequences of interoperability for the railway industry will be identified and evaluated in cooperation with the AEIF.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Cash flow model for a leasing company

Customer: Financial institution

SCI Verkehr developed a cash flow model for a financial institution for a European leasing company. The model calculates the companys expected profits until 2030 under market-realistic assumptions. It also calculates ratios such as loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratio based on a valuation of the fleet.

German urban railway systems

Customer: Private industry

Aufgabenträger

Market value analysis freight wagons

Customer: Freight wagon manufacturer

SCI Verkehr advised a manufacturer of innovative freight wagons on the acquisition of financing models with the analysis of potential market value trends.

Process optimisations Examples

Preparation of bidding documents for tenders in eastern Germany

Customer: Commuter rail operator

SCI Verkehr supported the transport company in the conceptual and practical preparation of two commuter rail bids in eastern Germany. The services ranged from the development and assessment of a vehicle concept to conceptual, technical and editorial support to operational and organisational support.

Supporting a work group on changes to the production and logistics infrastructure

Customer: Global player in the food industry

Changes in the client?s product and packaging mix led to an open discussion about the site structure in both production and logistics. Not only the future scale and location of the sites were up for discussion, but also the issue of the function of individual areas of production and logistics. SCI Verkehr hosted the dialogue between the employees and employer on these matters and incorporated its experience in supporting site changes into the discussion process.

Compilation of a bid for short-distance passenger transport in northern Germany

Customer: Railway transport company

A railway transport company is submitting a bid for a transport tender in northern Germany with the aim of making an attractive, innovative and cost-efficient offer for railway transport. The main contents include conception and technical support, editorial support as well as operative and organisational support.