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

Process optimization and interface streamlining between technical and operative divisions

Customer: Medium-sized logistics company

A medium-sized logistics company with an international focus operates its own technical department for its fleet and logistics division. SCI Verkehr was tasked with analysing the interface between the technical department and the operative units of the company and optimizing the respective processes. This included the development and implementation of a service level agreement.

Evaluation of the revenue opportunities of a leasing portfolio

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of an investor already active in the rolling stock leasing segment, SCI Verkehr performs a regular analysis of the leasing revenues to be expected for the entire vehicle portfolio. Depending on the fleet structure and the market demand expected, the leasing revenues and downtimes of the vehicles are assessed. These serve as the foundation for the evaluation of the revenue opportunities and the business plan.

Commercial due diligence for a railway component manufacturer

Customer: Private equity company

Within the scope of an open bidding procedure, a European component supplier in the rolling stock industry was up for sale. A leading financial investor in Europe commissioned SCI Verkehr to provide strategic market support in the preliminary work for a commercial due diligence. SCI Verkehr analysed the documents for the vendor?s due diligence and assessed the future market for the specific products and services of the target, as well as the competitive position of the company. Furthermore, SCI Verkehr analysed and assessed the specific opportunities and risks of the transaction and prepared questions for the target?s management.

Market Analyses Examples

Commercial due diligence on a rail vehicle leasing company

Customer: Investor 

SCI Verkehr supported an investor in the preparation of a CDD in the run-up to the submission of a non-binding offer. Together with other consultants, fleet strategies, investment planning and corporate KPIs were reviewed.

Vehicle evaluation: diesel locomotives in the German market

Customer: Investor

SCI Verkehr supported a private investor with the valuation of modern diesel locomotives in the German market. The valuation was carried out using the replacement costs method.

Market and data analysis for an investor

Customer:

In the context of the merger of two leading railway technology companies, a data analysis and a market survey were carried out for an investor. One focus was the analysis of the existing order backlog.

Asset Valuations Examples

Updated valuation of rail vehicle fleet

Customer:

On behalf of an international leasing company for rail vehicles, SCI Verkehr determined the value of a large fleet of locomotives and passenger vehicles. The valuation took into account the cost-based DRC valuation approach and the income-based DCF approach. SCI Verkehr also prepared a comprehensive supply and demand analysis.

Update input parameters collateral valuation method

Customer: Financer

SCI Verkehr creates an update of the existing collateral valuation method for rolling stock. In this context, value-over-time, market assessments and reuse probabilities at home and abroad are reviewed. In addition, an analysis of price development and leasing rates of selected reference vehicles is provided.

Discounted future earnings valuation of six-axle diesel locomotives

Customer: Leasing company

For the refinancing of heavy diesel locomotives, SCI Verkehr developed a discounted future earnings valuation. The current replacement value of the locomotives which are in operation in central Europe was determined by a DCF calculation with special attention to the demand and supply situation.

Public Consulting Examples

Profitability audit vehicle procurement

Customer: Transport authority

SCI Verkehr evaluated the economic feasibility of the selected bids for a transport authority in the context of a procurement of new urban transport vehicles. To this end, SCI Verkehr evaluated the tender documents and carried out a price benchmark to determine market prices for metro vehicles and e-buses.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Market development in German commuter rail sector

Customer: International consulting firm

On behalf of an international consulting firm, SCI Verkehr analysed the development of tenders for commuter rail services in Germany. In addition to an analysis of all known and planned tenders by the contracting authorities, SCI Verkehr also performed an allocation of the commuter rail vehicles currently in operation. An overview of the contract standards of all German contracting authorities was complemented by a differentiation by gross contracts and net contracts.

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.

Evaluation of different effects of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAK) on the performance of rail freight traffic

Customer: Railway undertaking

On behalf of a railway undertaking, SCI Verkehr is analysing the effects of the introduction of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAK) on the performance of rail freight transport. As part of a meta-study, SCI Verkehr summarises the results of various studies on the DAK and its effects in line and shunting operations and evaluates them with regard to an increase in capacity after the successful migration of the DAK after 2030.

Process optimisations Examples

Compilation of a bid for short-distance passenger transport in northern Germany

Customer: Railway transport company

A railway transport company is submitting a bid for a transport tender in northern Germany with the aim of making an attractive, innovative and cost-efficient offer for railway transport. The main contents include conception and technical support, editorial support as well as operative and organisational support.

Evaluation of different effects of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAK) on the performance of rail freight traffic

Customer: Railway undertaking

On behalf of a railway undertaking, SCI Verkehr is analysing the effects of the introduction of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAK) on the performance of rail freight transport. As part of a meta-study, SCI Verkehr summarises the results of various studies on the DAK and its effects in line and shunting operations and evaluates them with regard to an increase in capacity after the successful migration of the DAK after 2030.