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

The Chinese market for rail vehicles

Customer: Rail vehicle manufacturer

The Chinese railway market remains the worldwide largest and most dynamic single market. A leading European manufacturer of rail vehicles requires an in-depth view of current market data as well as strategic trends. SCI Verkehr analysed the current data and the developmental dynamics of the market to prepare the internal decision-making processes of the client.

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.

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 Analyses Examples

Market development of the demand for a type of a freight wagon

Customer: Leasing company

Against the background of growing rail freight transport in Europe, SCI Verkehr has analysed the demand trend for a special intermodal freight wagon type on behalf of a leasing company. To this end, a comprehensive market analysis was carried out. It was based on surveys of manufacturers, shipping companies and railway companies regarding market situation and an evaluation of statistical information. A requirement forecast was compiled. The chances of operating the wagon type were analysed for the next 10 years.

Analysis of private wagon owners

Customer: Freight wagons leasing company

Within the scope of the project SCI Verkehr is analysing the market for private wagon owners in selected European countries.

Continuous supply of market data on rail vehicles

Customer:

For the development of new markets, SCI Verkehr supplied market data and forecasts for rail vehicles to a components manufacturer. This included current fleet sizes, their age structure, delivery figures and upcoming procurement projects.

Asset Valuations Examples

Analysis of the effects of the future rail freight sector on the performance of locomotives

Customer: International leasing company

On behalf of an international railway vehicle leasing company, SCI Verkehr analysed the future of the rail freight sector and its effect on the performance of locomotives. For this purpose, a general driver analysis as well as concrete supply and demand analyses for European freight corridors were undertaken. Additionally, a general asset appraisal of the most important locomotives and the respective customer acceptance was conducted.

Follow-up valuation of leasing fleet

Customer: International leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr determined the current value of a rolling stock portfolio of locomotives, freight wagons and multiple units. The asset values were determined by a income-based DCF evaluation and a cost-based DRC evaluation on the basis of a supply and demand analysis in the passenger and freight transport markets concerned.

Valuation of freight wagons in the UK

Customer: International financing company

On behalf of a financing company SCI Verkehr evaluated intermodal wagons and powder wagons for rail freight transport in the UK. The project is an update of a valuation exercised in 2015 and included an evaluation by means of a DRC and DCF approach as well as an analysis of possibilities for re-using in Europe.

Public Consulting Examples

Analysis of logistics sites focusing particularly on rail connections

Customer: Company for economic development

Sidings and direct railway connections have played virtually no role at all when marketing sites over the past years. With the rising problems for road freight transport (traffic jams, transport capacity bottlenecks), logistical concepts making use of the railways are becoming ever more interesting for the freight shipping industry. On behalf of a transregional company for economic development SCI Verkehr is examining three former industrial sites with regard to their logistical suitability, taking into particular consideration the tracks existing at the sites. The result of the study is a marketing concept focusing specifically on those companies with a tendency to transport goods by rail.

New conception and continuation of the "Logistics State Initiative of North Rhine Westphalia"

Customer: Ministry of Economics and Labor of the State of NRW

Based on the work of the state's initiative in logistics during the first 3 years, the task now is to press ahead with the work started and provide new impulses in support of the logistics sector in North Rhine Westphalia

Profitability Analyses Examples

Commercial Due Diligence of bus manufacturer

Customer: Financial investor

On behalf of a financial investor, SCI Verkehr conducted a commercial due diligence on a globally active bus manufacturer. Focus was put on the analysis of future development potential of the core markets as well as the future expected competitive situation of the target. Moreover, a business plan entailing the assumptions of the management regarding the target´s development opportunities was examined.

Process optimisations Examples

Organizational change of a nationwide logistics organisation

Customer: Global player of the beverage industry

A global player of the beverage industry wants to standardize the management structures of its German logistics centres and make them sustainable. In the course of an implementation project in two pilot regions in Germany, SCI Verkehr analysed the current organizational structure and executed the migration into a new, homogenous structure. All steps were undertaken in cooperation with all relevant management levels as well as employee representation. Following the project, this structure is to be transferred to the remaining five German regions.

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.