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

Expert exchange on DMU maintenance market

Customer: Investor

SCI Verkehr has supported an investor with questions regarding the DMU market in Germany. Special focus was on the maintenance of DMUs and the future market of maintenance in general. To achieve better market knowledge, SCI Verkehr is participating in an expert call. 

Market entry strategy South and North America

Customer: Asian freight wagon supplier

On behalf of a leading Asian freight wagon supplier, SCI Verkehr has developed a market entry strategy in consultation with the client. As a basis for this, SCI Verkehr has analysed markets and their competition dynamics in detail, including freight rail operators, freight wagon producers and leasing companies. Strategic pathways for further business development in the analysed markets were presented, including opportunities and risks of the different business models.

Supporting a commercial due diligence in the field of information and security technology

Customer: Management consultancy

SCI supports a project partner with regards to specific questions in the context of a commercial due diligence on behalf of a financial investor. The target is a company globally active in passenger information technology.

Market Analyses Examples

Data delivery of rolling stock in Europe

Customer: Consultancy

On behalf of a globally active consultancy, SCI Verkehr provided up-to-date information on the deliveries and installed bases of rolling stock in Europe.

Strategic repositioning of a leading European rail freight company

Customer: Internationally leading rail freight company

A leading company in the European rail freight market has executed an extensive project for strategic repositioning, reorganisation and process setup with the help of SCI Verkehr. SCI Verkehr provided support in the areas of project management as well as with specific projects. For this, market and competition expectations were reviewed and benchmarks for the positioning of production- and sales-related units were developed. SCI Verkehr prepared, monitored and evaluated the successful implementation.

Red Flag DD for a component manufacturer in the railway infrastructure segment

Customer: Private Equity

SCI Verkehr carried out a red flag due diligence on behalf of an investor. The target was a manufacturer of components for railway infrastructure.

Asset Valuations Examples

Determining fair value of an EMU fleet

Customer: European railway undertaking

On behalf of a European railway undertaking, SCI Verkehr determines the current market value of used electric multiple units (EMUs). Based on its regional rail transport and vehicle databases, SCI Verkehr analyses the future secondary market for EMUs in particular and with a special focus on open access transport operations.

Vehicle evaluation of European high-speed trains

Customer: German credit Institution

To estimate the risk of financing European high-speed trains with multi-system equipment, SCI Verkehr compiled a brief evaluation of the trains and the related transport markets.

Portfolio analysis rolling stock

Customer: Banking Group

On behalf of a leading rolling stock financiers, SCI Verkehr analysed the current vehicle fleet in preparation of a portfolio assessment. In the first step, we defined criteria relevant for the assessment which we subsequently determined in close cooperation and with the aid of the SCI Database for Railway Technology.

Public Consulting Examples

North Rhine Westphalia export campaign for the Central and Eastern European countries

Customer: WIR.NRW GmbH Supported by the State North Rhine Westphalia (MWMEV) and GfW NRW (Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung / Economic Development Corporation), Düsseldorf Main contractor and project management: h.e.a.D. GmbH, Duisburg. Subcontract for the s

The North Rhine Westphalia export campaign for the Central and Eastern European countries is supporting the NRW companies engaged in the PPP Structure in entering the markets in Central and Eastern Europe with focus on Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. By means of specific market information and contact networking, organisation of political support, assistance with project acquisition and search for cooperation partners in the target countries, consulting and assistance in conjunction with financing and aid concepts, in particular through European programs, assistance at location by means of own coordination offices in the countries, the market entry in the target countries of the participating NRW companies is to be made easier; as a contribution to improving the competitive edge of the NRW region in conjunction with the expansion of the EU towards the east. Following start-up financing by the State of NRW the NRW Export Campaign is structured to be sustained self-supporting from companies' contributions for successful project arrangements

Innovative drives for rail vehicles

Customer: Federal Ministry of Transport

On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport, SCI Verkehr investigated the applicability of innovative drives for rail vehicles that run on non-electrified lines. In addition to economic efficiency, changes relevant to the environment (e.g. emission reduction) were also evaluated.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Strategic approaches for the after-market business in components

Customer:

SCI Verkehr analysed various KPIs for the maintenance and repair of vehicles and the overhaul and reconditioning of components for a supplier. For individual components and markets, a more in-depth analysis of the profitability of the segment was carried out, to derive strategic approaches for the design of the business field in Europe.

Benchmark for maintenance of freight wagons

Customer:

On behalf of an investor, SCI Verkehr prepared a comprehensive market analysis for the maintenance of freight wagons. This included a review of the basic principles of maintenance, an analysis of the main trends and drivers in the market, an explanation of new technological developments and an overview of maintenance companies and their locations. A focus of the analyses was also the benchmarking of prices of maintenance periods for different wagon types and components, as well as their development.

Evaluation business plan leasing company

Customer: Financial investor

SCI Verkehr critically examined the business plan of a leasing company in the run-up to a possible due diligence. The focus was on the evaluation of the current portfolio and the management's assumptions regarding growth potential. For this purpose, a benchmark of current and expected future leasing rates and the occupancy rate was also carried out.

Process optimisations Examples

Optimization of logistical and transport costs

Customer: Industrial company

In the context of European production location integration into the worldwide logistics concept, storage and transport processes are adapted; benchmarking of service providers.

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.

Support in restructuring process in rail freight transport

Customer: Market-leading freight transport company

Against the background of the global economic and financial crisis, a short-term need for a reaction and restructuring arose for a leading company in the freight transport sector. SCI Verkehr GmbH supported the client as a professional expert in close consultation with management. We reviewed the measures developed, compiled alternative scenarios and provided professional support in the negotiations.