British Steel Secures £500M Five-Year Network Rail Supply Deal

British Steel, the UK's sole rail track manufacturer, has secured a new five-year contract worth over £500 million with Network Rail to supply between 70,000 and 80,000 tonnes of rail annually, with an option to extend for three additional years. The rails will be produced at British Steel's Scunthorpe steelworks, which has supplied Network Rail for over 20 years and was recently saved from closure by emergency government intervention. The deal is seen as a significant endorsement of British industry and workers, providing job security for the 2,700 employees at the Scunthorpe plant and supporting the future of UK steelmaking. The contract includes the supply of innovative long-life rail products, HP335 and Zinoco, designed to reduce maintenance and extend rail life, contributing to the UK's reputation for having the safest railway in Europe. Government officials highlighted the contract's importance in sustaining skilled manufacturing jobs and emphasized the need for continued support through infrastructure projects using domestic steel. The GMB Union welcomed the deal as a crucial first step in securing the steel industry's future, urging ministers to ensure ongoing orders for British Steel.