The growing importance of railways and rising customer expectations require operators to provide new quality in terms of operations planning, operations management and the maintenance of rail transport vehicles and equipment.

DB International is responding to this trend by pooling its technical, commercial and methodological operations and maintenance rail transportation systems know-how. As part of project work, interdisciplinary use is made of the skills in all the areas of the company as well as within the entire DB Group.

The range of services is strongly oriented towards the needs of customers preparing to operate a rail system, or already operating a rail system and wishing to develop it further. This includes both transport companies and infrastructure companies. To meet the growing demands of the market and overcome increased competition, a consistent focus on state-of-the-art operational and technical knowledge, efficient corporate organisation and optimised production are all essential for operators. These are the areas that make up the core competencies of the "Operation and Maintenance" team", with its interdisciplinary training and wealth of experience.

We offer practical strategic and operational consulting services for all rail-project phases. The services can be grouped into the following core topics:

OPERATION – Planning, implementing and safeguarding high operational quality with optimal use of resources

Part-aspect: Planning operations

Realisation of the benefits of early involvement of future operators in rail projects
Development, optimisation and implementation of planning processes
Commercial analysis of operations planning
Operational infrastructure planning and optimisation
Creation of operational concepts and programmes, including simulation
Monitoring of tendering and awarding processes
Introduction of vehicle deployment concepts
Setup and optimisation of timetables/rosters and rolling stock rosters

Part-aspect: Running operations

Advice on strategic and operations management
Preparation, support and implementation of operational start-ups
Development, implementation and analysis of operational regulations
Personnel selection and employee development
Design and implementation of training and further-training concepts
Advice on the use of operations control and management systems
Design of ticketing systems

MAINTENANCE – Planning, implementation and safeguarding of commercial and sustainable system and vehicle maintenance

Advice on strategic and operational maintenance management
Planning of maintenance facilities, construction and startup support
Development, analysis, and implementation of maintenance regulations and processes
Design and implementation of training and further-training concepts
Design, adaptation and implementation of maintenance management systems (CMMS)
Maintenance-improved design of vehicles and equipment, life-cycle cost analysis and optimisation
Commercial and technical analyses

SAFETY – Planning, implementation and safeguarding of safe rail system operation

Advice on strategic and operational safety management
Development, implementation and monitoring of Safety Management Systems (SMS)
Analysis, development and implementation of safety operational and maintenance regulations
Operational testing and commissioning
Development, verification, and implementation of safety and emergency plans
Inspection and monitoring of railway company staff
Commercial analysis and evaluation of safety measures
SSQE Consultancy (Safety, Security, Quality, Environment)
Incident and accident investigation

MANAGEMENT – Planning, implementation and further development of the organisation of transport companies

Management, strategy and organisation consultancy
Management support, from tendering through start-up to commercial operation (establishment of transport companies and operational sites)
Takeover of operational and maintenance management
Development and implementation of innovation and modernisation strategies
Analysis and development of investment concepts
Professional support of change processes, due diligence and
merger & acquisitions

PROJECTS – Planning, development, support or implementation of projects in the context of "rail system operation", which call for in-depth experience of operational and maintenance management (traffic recording, construction work while trains are still running):