Strategic business consulting for the railway and logistics industry

SCI Verkehr is an independent and highly specialised management consultancy focusing on strategic issues in the international rail and logistics business. We support our business partners in industry and politics by analysing markets and developing viable and tailor-made strategies for the future. This includes asset valuation, support for M&A activities, optimisation of portfolios and existing processes, as well as the development of new markets and business areas.

Strategic Management Consultancy Examples

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.

Benchmarking of European passenger railway undertakings

Customer: Global consulting firm

SCI Verkehr conducted a benchmarking of European passenger transport companies on behalf of a global consulting firm. In addition to purely financial indicators, focus was also put on operational key figures as well as the identification of efficiency measures and their analysis with regard to their feasibility, the possible further development of the existing efficiency programme and the interdependence between efficiency measures and structural measures.

Support tram tender

Customer: Rolling stock manufacturer

SCI Verkehr supported an Asian manufacturer of rolling stock in a European tram tender process. This included an analysis of the tender documents and preparatory background talks as well as the recommendation of a suitable product and project strategy.

Market Analyses Examples

Analysis of the worldwide market for freight wagons

Customer: International consultancy company

For an analysis of international rail freight transport in leading global markets, SCI Verkehr analysed the fleets and procurements of freight wagons. The forecast, differentiated by types of freight wagon, provides the client with an outlook of the likely development of demand for freight wagons and their fleets in 2012.

Compilation of locomotive fleet sizes in 30 countries

Customer:

SCI Verkehr determined the current locomotive fleets of 30 countries worldwide for a globally active communications service provider, within the scope of a potential analysis. For a more detailed market picture, a distinction was also made based on drive technology and on usage for freight or passenger operations.

Demand analysis for freight wagon components

Customer: Component manufacturer

On behalf of a leading component manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analysed demand, potential market volume and entrance requirements for innovative freight wagon components. For this, information from the SCI database was evaluated and expert interviews with wagon keepers were conducted.

Asset Valuations Examples

Redeployment analysis and valuation of dual-mode locomotives for passenger transport 

Customer: Rolling Stock Lessor

SCI Verkehr was commissioned by a leasing company to evaluate dual-mode locomotives for use in passenger transport. In addition to determining their value in accordance with IVS 2024, particular emphasis was placed on analysing and assessing their long-term redeployment potential.

Asset valuation LRV

Customer: European bank

SCI Verkehr will perform an asset valuation of a fleet of LRV vehicles from Western Europe. The valuation will be prepared accoding to IVS 2020. SCI Verkehr has also analysed secondary markets for LRV in Europe.

Valuation tool locomotives and infrastructure vehicles

Customer: Rolling stock financier

On behalf of an international rolling stock financier, SCI Verkehr prepares a cost-based valuation methodology for locomotives and infrastructure vehicles. Maintenance cycles and refurbishment, amongst other things, are included in the value-over-time considerations.

Public Consulting Examples

Updating Logistics Competence Atlas for the Ruhr District

Customer: Projekt Ruhr GmbH

The Logistics Competence Atlas for the Ruhr district clearly presents all logistics competences in the field of logistics for the Ruhr district. The atlas compiled by SCI Verkehr was presented for the first time in the summer of 2004. In May 2005, SCI updated the atlas which is being used as an instrument for site marketing. Projekt Ruhr is thereby in a position to present possible investors with an updated overview concerning the logistics site North Rhine-Westphalia in events planned for 2005 (e.g. Munich Transport Logistics).

Specialist support of Initiative Bahn in North Rhine Westphalia

Customer: Ministry for economic affairs, energy, construction, housing and transport of North Rhine-Westphalia

Together with CP Compartner, SCI Verkehr is looking after Initiative Bahn NRW. This cluster initiative is responsible for supporting the diverse railway and transport sector in North Rhine-Westphalia. SCI Verkehr's activities in this respect focus on contextual support for the initiative and dealing with central specialist issues.

Economic survey logistics Hamburg

Customer: Logistics initiative Hamburg

Since 2009, SCI Verkehr GmbH has carried out an annual survey of the members of the logistics initiative group "Logistikinitiative Hamburg" regarding the economic development of the logistics market in Hamburg. The data collected is then compared with the SCI/Logistics Barometer and therefore put in a national context. In 2013, members were surveyed again. The results were presented as part of the initiative members' meeting.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Market value analysis freight wagons

Customer: Freight wagon manufacturer

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

Structural measures at a food company

Customer: food / logistics company

SCI Verkehr assists the works council of a large food / logistics company in the assessment and analysis of structural measures by the company and supports the development of alternative (logistics) concepts.

Plausibility check of an operator?s maintenance strategy with the focus on technical maintenance plants

Customer: Operator

Checking the plausibility of a plan to reduce capacity and close sites for heavy maintenance. Preparing recommendations for the next steps with the objective of maintaining as many competitive jobs in the maintenance plants as possible.

Process optimisations Examples

Strategic concept freight wagon division

Customer: Railway operator

SCI Verkehr supports a leading railway operator in the conceptual reorganisation of essential parts of rail freight transport. For this purpose, available concepts are reviewed and new approaches to advancing this field of business are developed and evaluated. It is aimed at achieving higher efficiency in this segment by reorganising responsibilities and processes in production and sales.

Model corridor Rotterdam - Genoa

Customer: Global player in the rail industry

The Rotterdam - Genoa axis is going to be developed into the first major European corridor to use ETCS/ERTMS. SCI Verkehr assisted a leading industrial company in developing the research project for testing ETCS/ERTMS. We analysed the assistance criteria and evaluated them for the concrete project concept, we identified and brought in project partners, compiled the necessary application documents and accompanying documents in cooperation with the client and ensured communication with funding institutions.

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.