British Steel will supply 36,000 tonnes of rail to the ERG International group in Turkey as part of a new 8-figure agreement.
The order, which has been supported by UK Export Finance, will see the company provide materials to aid the creation of a new 599km high-speed electric railway line between Ankara and İzmir, cutting travel time and reducing carbon emissions.
Thus far, the contract has created 23 new roles and enabled the company’s first 24/7 rail manufacturing operations for the first time in over 10 years.
British Steel Chief Commercial Officer, Lisa Coulson, said:Securing this prestigious contract – with the support of UK Export Finance – was a major achievement and underlines British Steel’s ability to build the sustainable track systems of the future.
It also demonstrates the importance of British Steel, the UK’s only manufacturer of rail, to this country’s economy and Britain’s global trading partners.
We are extremely grateful for the UK Government’s support in sealing this contract and look forward to working in partnership to secure more orders for our world-class products.
The new line aims to reduce rail travel time between Ankara and İzmir by more than 10 hours.
British Steel will supply 60E2 rail to the ERG International Group, which is delivering the project itself on behalf of Türkiye’s government, in 36 metre lengths throughout 2026. Once fully commissioned, the line will be operated by the Turkish State Railways.
CEO of ERG International UK, Melike Erdem, said:Today marks another major milestone in our long-standing partnership with British Steel.
The Ankara–Izmir High-Speed Rail Project is progressing at pace, and this agreement ensures the delivery of world-class rail products that meet the highest standards of quality and performance.
