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

Classification freight wagon portfolio

Customer: Rolling Stock Investor

For an investor, SCI Verkehr analysed a freight wagon fleet as part of a refinancing to derive the potential for green financing opportunities. The wagons were segmented according to UIC type and potentially transported goods. Based on this, the wagons were classified taking into account the relevance of fossil goods.

Fleet strategy for tank wagons

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr analysed the market for tank wagons and derived a fleet strategy with recommendations for potential investments and partnerships. In addition to the analysis of the existing oil & gas wagon fleet, the supply and demand development as well as the competitive situation in the tank wagon market were also considered.

Market analysis wheelsets in Europe and China

Customer: Component manufacturer

For a European manufacturer of rail vehicle components, SCI Verkehr analysed the market and competitive landscape in the European and Chinese market for wheelsets. Recommendations for the market entry strategy in the Chinese market complemented the market and competition analysis.

Market Analyses Examples

Analysis world market gangways

Customer: Component manufacturer

On behalf of a globally active component manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analyses the worldwide market for gangways (as rolling stock component). For this purpose, market size and development as well as the competitive situation are examined in more detail.

The Worldwide Market for Rail Freight Transport and its Operators

Customer: SCI Verkehr GmbH

Based on current developments, SCI Verkehr is analysing the worldwide market for rail freight transport, with a particularly in-depth look at rail freight transport operators. The study is an entirely new edition and extension of the study "Rail Freight Transport Market in Europe 2007-2015", which was published in 2007. The aim of this study is to provide manufacturers, suppliers, transport operators and leasing companies with information relevant for making decisions about the market for rail freight transport in a compact form. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr analyses the turnovers, transport services, transport volumes and main transported goods as well as the market conditions and market developments.

Market potential for Multiple Units with alternative traction

Customer: Supplier

On behalf of a component supplier SCI Verkehr is analysing the Multiple Units fleet in Europe and the market potential for alternative traction. Besides analysing ongoing deliveries, also a market forecast for upcoming procurements has been performed for HMU, BEMU as well as bi-mode and hybrid vehicles.

Asset Valuations Examples

Fleet evaluation passenger and freight transport assets

Customer: Rolling stock leasing company

On behalf of a leading leasing company, SCI Verkehr evaluated the current and future expected asset values of rail vehicles in continental Europe and the UK. Together with the income-based valuation, a comprehensive valuation and market report was prepared for the investors involved.

Portfolio evaluation for refinancing

Customer:

On behalf of a leading leasing company, SCI Verkehr prepared a comprehensive market and evaluation report on a large European rail vehicle fleet. The fleet, consisting of passenger vehicles, locomotives and freight wagons, was valued using a cash flow-based approach and the valuation methodology and results documented in a comprehensive report.

Rolling stock valuation tool

Customer: Rolling stock financing company

On behalf of a large rolling stock financing company, SCI Verkehr develops a cost-based valuation tool for different rolling stock types. SCI Verkehr determines different value progressions and input parameters and develops a special value determination method, which considers individual revision cycles.

Public Consulting Examples

Challenges of the demographic change for the local rail passenger transport in North Rhine-Westphalia

Customer: State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Initiative Bahn NRW

On behalf of the "Initiative Bahn NRW" of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, SCI Verkehr conducted a study concerning the challenges of the demographic change for the local rail passenger transport in North Rhine-Westphalia. Based on previous research, SCI Verkehr developed demographic and further input parameters for a traffic prognosis concerning the local rail passenger transport up to 2030. The results of the prognosis were prepared for discussions with different players.

Competence-net Logistics.NRW

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

In April 2018, the competence-net Logistics.NRW was launched as innovation and partner network of the state of NRW. Activities of the network are directed at the subject areas of innovation and digitalisation in particular. On behalf of LOG-IT Club eV., SCI Verkehr, in close cooperation with the alliance of transport economics and logistics, organises all specialist and organisational activities related to continuous networking.

Regional business development

Customer: Projekt Ruhr GmbH

Within the scope of marketing fields of expertise for a leading German business region, the aim is to link together various fields of expertise (logistics and IT) in order to develop a settlement strategy. SCI Verkehr is adding to and amending an existing company database regarding logistics/IT and carrying out a target customer analysis in the field of logistics/IT companies. The result is a marketing strategy for the combined segment logistics/IT with concrete advice for proactively attracting possible investors.

Profitability Analyses 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.

Assessment of maintenance capacities in North Rhine-Westphalia

Customer: Medium-sized transport company and vehicle maintenance provider

A medium-sized transport company is looking to assess developments in the short-distance passenger transport market and their consequences for maintenance in North Rhine-Westphalia. The following targets are of paramount importance: 1) analysis and assessment of basic conditions of the short-distance passenger transport market; 2) processing market developments in the short-distance passenger transport market; 3) deduction of demand potential for maintenance work. With the available survey, SCI Verkehr GmbH is compiling the basis for these assessments in June 2006.

Process optimisations Examples

Drafting and compilation of a bid for local transport service

Customer: International transport company

On behalf of an international transport company, SCI Verkehr has developed and compiled a bid for services in local rail passenger transport in southern Germany. In addition, SCI Verkehr was responsible for organisation and bid management.

Development of offer for line-related tender invitations of RPST services in the State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Customer: Stadtwerke Schwerin / Mecklenburgbahn GmbH

Analysis of tender invitation, specification of performance profile and offer support for the public tender for several routes of the rail-bound passenger short-distance transport of the State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern within the scope of the regionalisation of the RPST; Start-up of operation of the Mecklenburg railways based on the 1st offer scheduled for June 2001.

Assistance in realising a pilot project in the field of electronic ticketing

Customer: Midsized railway technology company

Our client had developed an innovative system for electronic fare management, which it wished to have tested in practice. In addition, the acceptance of the company was necessary as well as funding. SCI Verkehr took part in the project and assisted the client in quickly satisfying the necessary requirements for using the system in commercial operation.