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

Freight Wagon Leasing in Europe

Customer: European wagon leasing company

SCI Verkehr analysed the European market for freight wagons and freight wagon leasing in particular. The analysis focused on the total market as well as specific countries in detail. A special focus was placed on strategic options within the market as well as the subsequent recommended actions.

Market potential analysis for innovative infrastructure components

Customer: Industrial group

On behalf of an industrial group, SCI Verkehr analysed the market potential for innovative infrastructure components. The focus was placed on a market and competition analysis in Germany, France and Italy.

Studies for the introduction of competition within the RPST in the area of Hamburg

Customer: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, Baubehörde, Amt für Verkehr (The Free City of Hamburg, Building Department, Transport Office)

Economics and perspectives of S-Bahnbetrieb (City Railway operation) in Hamburg

Market Analyses Examples

Global existing fleet and demand for passenger vehicles

Customer: Component supplier

On behalf of a component supplier related to the railway and bus sector, SCI Verkehr analyses current and future stock of buses and rolling stock as well as their demand potential. Regional focus of the analysis lies on Europe, Russia, China und Japan as well on selected metropolises in Asia and the Middle East.

European Rail Operator

Customer: European Rail Operator

SCI Verkehr analyses the maintenance workshops in Germany regarding their abilities and facilities. Light and heavy maintenance as well as refurbishments will be included. Te project focuses on long-distance, regional and rail freight maintenance facilities. The result is going to be a full overview of German mainline rail maintenance sites.

Identification of potentials in conventional SGV in Europe

Customer: Rail transport company active throughout Europe

SCI Verkehr supported a German rail transport company in identifying and developing potential in conventional rail freight transport on European corridors. Based on a market report, internal workshops were organised and targeted potential customers are approached.

Asset Valuations Examples

Continuous evaluation of a rail vehicle portfolio

Customer: Refinancing credit institution

A 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, SCI Verkehr supported the client at short notice with additional market analyses and expert discussions. A presentation on current and expected market trends was given at the end of the project.

Asset valuation of single deck EMU and LRV in France

Customer: International bank

On behalf of an international bank, SCI Verkehr has assessed  electric multiple units (EMU) and light rail vehicles (LRV) for the deployment in the French passenger rail market following the IVS 2022 standards. The replacement cost method has been applied.

Analysis of the secondary market for rolling stock in Europe and the CIS

Customer: International credit institute

On behalf of a credit institute, SCI Verkehr analysed the secondary market for rolling stock in Europe as well as the development of values within the scope of risk management. In its expert report SCI Verkehr carried out an assessment by country of the markets for passenger and freight transport in Europe and the CIS, in order to derive the probabilities for potential reuse. With the aid of this market analysis we calculated, analysed and provided the reasons for value reductions in the event of possible reuse.

Public Consulting Examples

Assessment of economic consequences of reducing regionalisation funds

Customer: Transport Association Rhine-Ruhr

The reduction of regionalisation funds for short-distance passenger transport will have far-reaching effects on the range of transport on offer. The consequences for companies and employees will be of particular significance. SCI Verkehr has assessed the economic effects of the reduction of regionalisation funds in the form of a brief expert opinion.

Logistics workshop series

Customer:

SCI Verkehr conducts a series of workshops on logistics issues in the food industry at the training centre Bildungszentrum Oberjosbach. The target group comprises works councils from various sectors of the food industry.

Profitability Analyses Examples

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.

Technical/economical assessment of new development and upgrading of a testing centre

Customer: Public sector

On behalf of national and regional authorities, SCI Verkehr examined the new development and upgrading of a testing centre for rolling stock and infrastructure components in an EU country. This primarily involved the analysis of future test requirements and test potential as well as transferring this information into a technical/economical analysis to identify the optimum upgrade level for the current volume of funding.

Development opportunities for a private siding in the Ruhr valley

Customer: Industrial company

An industrial wasteland in the centre of the Ruhr Valley is the subject of plans for new industrial and/or logistical development. With regard to marketing the areas, it has to be decided whether to keep the existing private siding and, if so, in what form. SCI Verkehr has derived a railway-related development concept based on the relevant technical, legal and economical factors. It includes various different strategies for the detailed conversion of the area needed to best meet the requirements of the (still unknown) companies wishing to locate in the area, the sequence of the development stages, costs and revenues from construction and operation and how these would be distributed between involved parties. With the aid of well-founded/backed up documents, SCI Verkehr has been able to accompany the entire decision process regarding the dismantling or keeping of the private siding.

Process optimisations Examples

Customs procedures for the container traffic Denmark ? German North Sea harbours ? Overseas newly to be installed

Customer: Logistic company

The European liberalisation of railway traffic allows the utilisation of the infrastructure by private railway transportation enterprises also across national borders. However, as opposed to the state railways, the regional railways cannot make use of the simplified common shipping procedure but are subject to the regulating procedures of the common / community shipping procedure. With this report a recommendation was developed for procedural management under the existing conditions.

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.

Restructuring logistical processes at a production site

Customer: Global player in the food industry

Our client took over a site previously operated by a service provider and at the beginning of 2008 integrated it into its network of sites across Germany. This integration included major changes to the processes and the IT system which had to be adapted to the requirements of the new owner. At the same time, the production and distribution volume increased substantially, as well as production exchange with other sites. These changes led to overworking and uncertainty among staff and consequently considerable deficits in the site?s performance. Within the scope of the "operational excellence" process, SCI Verkehr led and accompanied the modelling of new logistical processes with staff and company management. The consultancy process focused on using the existing employee know-how in order to achieve a higher level of acceptance for the necessary changes and thus a sustainable improvement of performance. Following SCI Verkehr?s ?Operational Excellence Tool?, the staff were involved in reviewing the current situation and developing improved processes in accordance with a tried and tested process. In addition, the task involved coaching the logistical managers at the site and thus cementing the new structures.