Landing a major international contract is a cause for celebration — but for British Steel, the announcement of an eight-figure deal to supply rail for Turkey’s Ankara–İzmir high-speed railway also marks the beginning of a period of intense delivery. Thirty-six thousand tonnes of rail needs to be produced, quality-checked, and shipped — a significant undertaking that the plant, now running 24 hours a day for the first time in over ten years, is committed to achieving.
The deal with ERG International Group, supported by UK Export Finance, will see Scunthorpe-made rail form part of Turkey’s 599km flagship high-speed line — a project designed to cut travel times and reduce carbon emissions between the capital and the Aegean coast. Winning the contract is a significant achievement; delivering it will be just as important.
Twenty-three new workers have joined the Scunthorpe team specifically for this contract, adding to a workforce of around 3,500. The resumption of round-the-clock production reflects the scale of the task ahead and the confidence that management has in the plant’s ability to deliver. UK Steel has praised the deal and urged the government to provide structural support to ensure British Steel can continue winning such contracts.
The financial backdrop, however, remains challenging. British Steel is losing £1.2 million a day, with the government’s total outlay since the emergency takeover reaching £359 million. Every contract won and delivered is a step in the right direction, but the gap between revenues and losses means that the search for a sustainable long-term model remains urgent.
If British Steel delivers on the Turkish contract — on time, on specification, and to the satisfaction of a high-profile international customer — it will have made a powerful statement about what the plant is capable of. And that statement may be exactly what’s needed to attract the investment and ownership resolution that British Steel so urgently requires.
British Steel Wins Prestigious Turkish Contract — And Now the Hard Work Really Begins
