For the first time in more than ten years, workers at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site are manning the production lines around the clock, prompted by a major order for high-speed rail destined for Turkey. The contract, worth tens of millions of pounds, has breathed new energy into a plant that has spent the past year under government control amid mounting financial losses.
The 36,000-tonne order from ERG International Group will supply rail for Turkey’s new 599km Ankara–İzmir high-speed railway — one of the country’s most significant infrastructure projects. The line is designed to slash travel times between the capital and the Aegean coast while cutting emissions, making it both an economic and environmental priority.
British Steel says the deal has already made a tangible difference at Scunthorpe, where 23 new roles have been created as a direct result. The resumption of continuous production marks a significant operational shift, and management hopes it signals the beginning of a more sustained recovery in output and orders.
The contract was supported by UK Export Finance, which has been instrumental in helping British Steel compete in international markets at a time when domestic conditions remain difficult. Industry leaders have applauded the win, noting that rail products require specialised capability and long-standing customer relationships that British Steel has worked hard to cultivate.
Even so, the plant’s wider predicament has not changed overnight. Government figures show it is losing £1.2 million a day, with cumulative losses since the emergency takeover now exceeding £350 million. Experts warn that export contracts, while vital, cannot on their own resolve the deep structural challenges facing the site.
New Jobs and Night Shifts: How British Steel’s Turkish Deal Is Changing Things in Scunthorpe
