British Steel wins multi-million-pound Türkiye high-speed rail contract

British Steel wins multi-million-pound Türkiye high-speed rail contract
Workers work at the British Steel site in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, UK
Reuters

British Steel has secured a multi-million-pound order to supply rail for a major high-speed railway in Türkiye. Backed by UK Export Finance, the deal will see 36,000 tonnes of rail used on a 599km line between Ankara and İzmir, prompting the company to resume round-the-clock production.

The eight-figure contract has been awarded by ERG International Group, which is delivering the Ankara–İzmir High-Speed Rail Project on behalf of the Turkish government. Once completed, the line will be operated by Turkish State Railways.

The new high-speed railway is expected to reduce journey times between Ankara and İzmir by more than 10 hours. It will also help cut carbon emissions by providing a cleaner alternative to road and air travel.

For British Steel, the contract represents a significant commercial milestone. The scale of the order has led to the creation of 23 new roles and the resumption of 24/7 rail manufacturing operations at its Scunthorpe site for the first time in more than a decade.

Lisa Coulson, Chief Commercial Officer at British Steel, described the agreement as a prestigious win that underlines the company’s global competitiveness.

“The deal highlights British Steel’s capability to deliver sustainable track systems for major infrastructure projects and reinforces its importance as the UK’s only rail manufacturer,” Coulson said.

The new contract comes after the UK government took control of British Steel’s plant in Scunthorpe in April to prevent its closure.

Industry Minister Chris McDonald said the order was positive news for UK steelmaking and aligned with the government’s Steel Strategy.

“Every tonne of British-made steel used in projects at home and abroad helps sustain skilled employment and reinforces its quality for the world’s most ambitious engineering projects,” he said.

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