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

Fundamental company concept for a future railway transport company

Customer: Uetersener Eisenbahn AG

Business and structural analysis as well as business area and strategy development for an NE-Railway.

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.

Market Analyses Examples

Development and forecast of delivery figures and technological trends for rail vehicles in various market segments

Customer:  Supplier Group 

For a supplier group, SCI Verkehr analyses the deliveries of rail vehicles differentiated by segment and provides data for its strategic planning every six months. The figures are regionally differentiated and take into account current drivers and technological developments in the individual market segments.

Marketing strategy maintenance services

Customer: Industrial company

On behalf of an industrial company, SCI Verkehr developed a marketing strategy for the customer´s maintenance services in the third market. For this purpose, the portfolio of the workshop was analysed and the potential demand in the market was derived. Furthermore, strengths and weaknesses compared to competitors were pointed out. The marketing strategy for the customer included recommendations on organisation, sales and marketing.

Analysis of demand for SGV locomotives in Southern Europe

Customer:

On behalf of a leading locomotive manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analysed the rail freight market of a Southern European country with regard to the marketability of a modern type of locomotive. In the course of this, a product benchmark and a forecast of future demand were prepared for the purpose of approaching potential investors.

Asset Valuations Examples

Fleet appraisal used freight wagons

Customer: Bank group

On behalf of an international bank group, SCI Verkehr appraised a large fleet of used freight wagons within a sale and lease back transaction. SCI Verkehr analysed the competitive situation of the freight wagons in the market and conducted an appraisal based on earning power and asset value approaches.

Asset valuation of rolling stock leasing fleet

Customer: Investment fund manager

On behalf of a European fund manager, SCI Verkehr analysed rolling stock leasing fleets in terms of asset description, valuation and market background.

Annual valuation update of multi-system locomotives

Customer: European bank

On behalf of a financier, SCI Verkehr valued a portfolio of new multi-system locomotives for transalpine transit traffic using the cost-based RC evaluation methodology according to IVS 2020.

Public Consulting Examples

Analysis of potential for hydrogen shunters

Customer: An infrastructure manager

SCI Verkehr analysed the future potential of hydrogen shunters and the corresponding demand for an hydrogen refuelling station for an infrastructure manager. This included a survey of railway undertakings present on the network, the calculation of the future demand for hydrogen and a SWOT analysis of different operating models for a hydrogen refuelling station.

eLogistics Study

Customer: eLogistics company network

Compilation of a study regarding current developments and characteristics of eLogistics in Germany and Europe.

Management LOG-IT CLUB

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

Since the foundation of the LOG-IT Club e.V. in November 2002, SCI Verkehr has conducted the business of the association. This includes the support of the association committees, account management, budgetary control and acceptance of new members.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Maintenance costs passenger coaches

Customer: Leasing company

SCI Verkehr has determined maintenance costs for passenger coaches as input for a business plan for a young leasing company. For this purpose, the life cycle costs for different wagon types and operating scenarios were calculated.

Economic feasibility study for factory fleet

Customer:

SCI Verkehr was commissioned to examine the economic viability of a large fleet of factory vehicles for the distribution of an industrial company. To this end, scenarios were developed as to how general conditions would have to change in order to increase the profitability of the fleet.

Comparative line analysis for re-activating the Osthavelländische Eisenbahn (East Havel-Land Railways)

Customer: Stadt Hennigsdorf (City of Hennigsdorf)

Analysis of passenger load and potential for a tangential connection Berlin-Spandau-Hennigsdorf

Process optimisations Examples

Supporting a terminal operator in its appeal against the rejection of an application for funding

Customer: Terminal operator

An application for funding by a midsized intermodal terminal operator was rejected by the authorisation authority responsible. SCI Verkehr advised the client on all important aspects of the upcoming appeal proceedings and prepared the reasoning for the appeal. Furthermore, in order to develop a strategy with optimum chances of success, SCI Verkehr gathered additional information on the chances of success of the proceedings and on the optimum course of action by means of background discussions in political circles.

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.

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.