British Steel has won a contract worth tens of millions of pounds to supply rail for Turkey’s new high-speed railway, providing a significant commercial boost to a plant that is fighting for its long-term future. The deal with ERG International Group — an eight-figure agreement covering 36,000 tonnes of rail for the 599km Ankara–İzmir line — has created jobs and restarted 24-hour production at Scunthorpe for the first time in over a decade.
The Ankara–İzmir railway is one of Turkey’s most ambitious infrastructure investments, designed to dramatically reduce travel times between the capital and the Aegean coast while cutting carbon emissions. British Steel’s involvement in this prestigious project is a demonstration of the plant’s continuing international relevance and its capacity to deliver at scale.
The deal was facilitated with support from UK Export Finance, which played a key role in helping British Steel compete against international rivals. Industry body UK Steel praised the contract as “essential to underpinning a sustainable turnaround,” while calling on the government to also address structural issues — particularly energy costs and import safeguards — that continue to disadvantage UK steel producers.
British Steel’s history in recent years has been marked by ownership changes, financial crisis, and government intervention. Sold to Greybull Capital in 2016, it collapsed in 2019. Chinese firm Jingye Group took over but attempted to close Scunthorpe last year when losses hit £700,000 a day. Under government control, those losses have since widened to £1.2 million daily, with total costs now at £359 million.
For the 3,500 workers at Scunthorpe, and for the communities that depend on the plant, the Turkish deal is a lifeline and a source of pride. But they know, better than anyone, that what the plant needs most is not just contracts — it needs certainty, investment, and a clear plan for the future.