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

Systematic analysis and development of business areas for the strategic development of a rail engineering company

Customer: Rail engineering company

Market analysis, market entry obstacles, technical and economic prerequisites, profitability analysis and implementation concepts for different business areas within the company.

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

Periodic rail market monitoring

Customer: Financial service provider

SCI Verkehr supported a financial service provider with a regular high-level monitoring report on the European rolling stock market. In the scope of the project, SCI Verkehr provided a report on a quarterly basis including the most important events with a focus on railway operators, manufacturers and leasing companies.

Market Analyses Examples

Study of the Spanish and Portuguese freight wagon market

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr analysed and evaluated the market regions of Spain and Portugal with regard to the market players, the infrastructural conditions and freight wagon stocks. We provided a forecast of the expected market development and estimated and evaluated market entry possibilities.

Creation and maintenance of a worldwide project monitoring tool

Customer: Components manufacturer

For a manufacturer of rail vehicle components, SCI Verkehr created a continuously maintained project monitoring system. With this monitoring, the data and facts critical to success and decision-making were mapped. The customer thus received information on the relevant vehicle projects and can initiate necessary product developments in time.

Market analysis for sensor solutions for the railway market

Customer: Manufacturer of components

On behalf of a global manufacturer of components SCI Verkehr investigates the market for railway technology with focus on sensor solutions in relevant European countries.

Asset Valuations Examples

Valuation of freight wagons

Customer: Leasing company

For a leasing company, SCI Verkehr analysed the asset value development of sliding wall freight wagons (Habbiins-16) and bulk freight wagons (Falns) over their entire lifecycle. In addition to the analysis of the technical vehicle values, the expert report also included statements concerning a possible reuse of the freight wagons.

Asset valuation of multi-system locomotives

Customer: European banking company

On behalf of a financier, SCI Verkehr assesses new multi-system locomotives for cross-border traffic in Europe by means of a cost-based DRC analysis.

Update to valuation of freight and passenger vehicle fleet

Customer:

As part of an annual portfolio update, SCI Verkehr completed a valuation of a large fleet of locomotives, freight wagons, multiple units and passenger coaches that are used in Europe. The valuation using the income-based DCF method included an extensive market analysis.

Public Consulting Examples

Industrial campaign regional transport

Customer: Transport company regional rail transport

In the context of an industrial campaign for regional rail transport, SCI Verkehr compiled interesting figures, data and facts on regional rail transport in a particular federal state in Germany. For this purpose, key figures of locally active companies, operation and infrastructure were prepared. Moreover, SCI Verkehr analysed effects of regional rail transport on economy and employment in that federal state.

Circle Line / Public-Private-Partnership in public rail transport

Customer: Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr AöR (Transportation authority)

"Circle Line" is the first rail transport project in Germany to be realised primarily as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). In a consortium comprising DEPFA BANK, the law firm Kapellmann und Partner and the engineering office Vössing GmbH, SCI Verkehr is subjecting the plans to a "PPP suitability test" and preparing the realisation of the first construction phase up to the tendering procedure. SCI Verkehr is carrying out the project management and market research as well as addressing potential interested parties.

Specialist support of Initiative Bahn in North Rhine Westphalia

Customer: Ministry for economic affairs, energy, construction, housing and transport of North Rhine-Westphalia

Together with CP Compartner, SCI Verkehr is looking after Initiative Bahn NRW. This cluster initiative is responsible for supporting the diverse railway and transport sector in North Rhine-Westphalia. SCI Verkehr's activities in this respect focus on contextual support for the initiative and dealing with central specialist issues.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Structural measures at a food company

Customer: food / logistics company

SCI Verkehr assists the works council of a large food / logistics company in the assessment and analysis of structural measures by the company and supports the development of alternative (logistics) concepts.

Economic assessment of automation potentials in rail operation

Customer: Rail operator

SCI Verkehr prepares a cost driver analysis for operational processes which is aimed at evaluating automation potentials in the context of feasibility assessment and, thus, at enabling an investment decision regarding the digitalisation of processes.

Strategic advice to a logistics service provider on the development of rail products

Customer:  Logistics Group 

Together with partners, SCI Verkehr is supporting a globally active logistics group in the strategic reorientation of its transports towards more rail transport. The activities are taking place in the context of implementing the group's CO2 targets. In the process, the relevant transport markets are analysed and, as a result, options are examined, e.g. for the development of own capacities, partnerships or acquisitions.

Process optimisations Examples

Strategic realignment of leading European freight railway

Customer: Leading European freight railway

The commissioning railway company active in European rail freight transport is in an economically strained situation with clearly decreasing market shares, declining transport services and unsatisfactory performance. Defined objectives of the company are to increase production stability, reorganise operations of sales and production as well as increasing productivity and economic improvement of selected areas of operation. SCI Verkehr was commissioned to monitor and accompany the process as expert consultant.

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.