British Steel is gearing up production after securing a Turkish order worth tens of millions of pounds. It will produce rails 24/7 for the first time in over a decade. The Scunthorpe-manufactured rails will help “revolutionise transport in Türkiye”.
“This contract has been the catalyst to us starting 24/7 rail manufacturing operations in Scunthorpe”, commented the steel manufacturer’s commercial director Craig Harvey. British Steel speaks of an 8-figure agreement that tasks the company with the delivery of 36,000 tonnes of rail to ERG International Group, an originally Turkish infrastructure contractor.
The contract is for British Steel’s 60E2 rail, which will be delivered throughout 2026 in 36 metre lengths.
Türkiye will use the rails to build a 599-kilometre high-speed line between capital city Ankara and coastal İzmir. The railway will provide freight and passengers alike with faster and more efficient rail service, according to British Steel. An added benefit is a reduction in the transport sector’s carbon output. The Turkish State Railways will operate the Ankara-İzmir high-speed line.
Turkish infrastructure – British jobs
Commercial director Harvey pointed out that British Steel had cooperated previously with ERG for the same project. “We have a distinguished record of supplying into high-speed rail projects across the world and have previously delivered rail into Türkiye through ERG for earlier phases of the Ankara to Izmir line.”
“For this new agreement, we were again able to comply with the demanding technical specifications and the project delivery schedule which we can support with a robust logistics supply chain.”
The supply of British steel for the Turkish railway network consequently has positive effects on both ends of Europe. “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”, the UK’s Industry Minister Chris McDonald commented on the deal. British jobs, Turkish infrastructure.
Rail works in Türkiye
Türkiye is currently working on improving and expanding its rail infrastructure. It is building new railways, notably from Istanbul to the European Union and to Azerbaijan via the corridor through Armenia for international connections. Ankara has also grown the length of signalled lines from 2,505 kilometres to 8,419 kilometres in the past 23 years.
Moreover, the existing railway network of around 14,000 kilometres will be expanded with approximately 4,000 kilometres of high-speed rail lines which are currently under construction. These will be equipped with ETCS signaling systems.