British Steel has secured a contract worth tens of millions of GBP to supply 36,000 tonnes of rail for the new Ankara–Izmir high-speed line, one of the most important railway projects currently underway in Turkiye.
The agreement, supported by UK Export Finance, provides for the delivery of the rail to ERG International Group, the company implementing the project on behalf of the Turkish government. Once completed, the line will be operated by Turkiye’s state railway company (TCDD).
A strategic 599 km corridor
The new line will be 599 km long and will connect the capital Ankara to the port city of Izmir, strengthening the link between the country’s administrative center and one of the main commercial gateways to the Aegean Sea. The project is presented by the Turkish authorities as an investment with a major impact on internal mobility and freight transport.
According to information provided by the parties involved, the reduction in travel time could exceed 10 hours compared to current options, which would transform the Ankara-Izmir route into a benchmark rail corridor.
In addition, the new infrastructure is being promoted as a lower-emission alternative to road and air transport.
Production resumed 24/7
The contract also has a direct industrial impact in the UK. For the first time in over a decade, British Steel has moved to continuous production, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at its Scunthorpe plant. At the same time, 23 new jobs have been created.
“Winning this prestigious contract – with the support of UK Export Finance – is a major achievement and underlines British Steel’s ability to build the sustainable rail systems of the future,” said Lisa Coulson, the company’s commercial director.
She pointed out that the company is the only rail manufacturer in the UK and plays an important role in the British economy and international trade relations.
60E2b rail, deliveries in 2026
The contract covers the 60E2 rail profile, which is frequently used on high-speed lines and busy corridors. Deliveries will be made throughout 2026 in 36-meter bars.
Craig Harvey, commercial director for British Steel’s rail segment, pointed out that the company already has experience in supplying rail for high-speed projects internationally and has previously delivered to Turkiye, through ERG, for earlier phases of the Ankara-Izmir line.
“For this new agreement, we have once again managed to meet the demanding technical specifications and delivery schedule, supported by a robust logistics chain,” he said, adding that the company is looking into the possibility of supplying other steel products for the project.
British-Turkish industrial cooperation
ERG representatives described the agreement as a new step in a long-standing partnership with British Steel.
“The Ankara-Izmir high-speed project is progressing at a steady pace, and this agreement ensures the delivery of railway products that meet the highest standards of quality and performance,” said Melike Erdem, CEO of ERG International UK.
Mohamed Ibrahim, commercial director of ERG International UK, emphasized that the new contract strengthens the cooperation between ERG, British Steel, and British institutions involved in export support, opening up the prospect of further collaboration on future international projects.
The British authorities also presented the agreement as an example of their strategy to support the steel industry.
Industry Minister Chris McDonald said that every ton of steel produced in the United Kingdom and used in domestic or foreign projects helps to maintain highly skilled jobs and strengthen the reputation of British products in major engineering projects.
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