Under an eight-figure contract backed by UK Export Finance, British Steel will supply 36,000 tons of rail for the Ankara–İzmir line via ERG International Group.
The new line in Türkiye spans 599 kilometres between the capital Ankara and the port city İzmir, significantly reducing rail travel time while lowering carbon emissions. The project will create 23 new positions, and British Steel’s facilities in Scunthorpe have begun 24/7 rail production operations for the first time in more than a decade.
British Steel Chief Commercial Officer Lisa Coulson said: “Securing this prestigious agreement with the support of UK Export Finance is a major achievement and demonstrates British Steel’s capability to manufacture the sustainable rail systems of the future. It also reinforces our contribution to both the UK economy and our global trade partners as the United Kingdom’s sole rail manufacturer.”
When completed, the Ankara–İzmir line will provide faster and more efficient transportation for passengers and freight, offering environmental benefits as a lower-carbon alternative to existing options. The rails will be supplied through ERG International Group, and the line will be operated by Turkish State Railways.
British Steel Rail Commercial Director Craig Harvey said: “We have experience supplying high-speed rail projects worldwide and previously delivered rails to Türkiye with ERG for earlier phases of the Ankara–İzmir line. Under the new agreement, we can meet technical requirements while providing support through a strong logistics supply chain.”
Under the new contract, 36-metre 60E2 rail sections will be delivered throughout 2026. The company also stated it is ready to supply additional steel products to support ERG’s future needs.
UK Industry Minister Chris McDonald stated: “Steel produced in the United Kingdom is known for its high quality, and this order is a welcome development for British Steel. Agreements like this support skilled employment while reinforcing the quality of British steel for some of the world’s most ambitious engineering projects.”
ERG International UK CEO Melike Erdem commented: “We have reached an important milestone in our long-standing partnership with British Steel. The Ankara–İzmir High-Speed Train Project is progressing rapidly, and the agreement secures the delivery of railway products that meet the highest standards of quality and performance.”
ERG International UK Commercial Director Mohamed Ibrahim added: “We are proud to deepen our collaboration with the United Kingdom supply chain. This contract strengthens strategic cooperation among ERG, British Steel, UKEF and DBT on major international infrastructure projects and paves the way for future initiatives.”
This new rail supply agreement follows successful deliveries that began in 2025 between British Steel and ERG International, opening the door to broader cooperation on future projects.
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