British Steel Ramps Up Rail Ops After Turkey Deal

British Steel has initiated round-the-clock rail manufacturing operations at its Scunthorpe facility, marking the first time in over ten years. This significant operational change has been spurred by a substantial contract awarded by Turkey, valued in the tens of millions of pounds.

The agreement entails supplying rails for a new 372-mile high-speed electric railway. This ambitious project will link the capital city, Ankara, with the port city of Izmir, promising greatly reduced journey times and lower emissions compared to existing transport methods.

This contract represents a crucial turning point for British Steel, highlighting its capability to produce advanced, sustainable track systems. The firm's commercial director emphasized that this deal has been the catalyst for resuming 24/7 production. The UK government previously took control of the Scunthorpe plant in April to ensure its continued operation, underscoring the plant's national importance.

Industry leaders and trade unions have lauded the contract as a testament to British Steel's global competitiveness and its vital role in the UK economy. There is optimism for future commercial contracts, building on this recent success and a prior £500m deal with Network Rail for train track manufacturing.