How a Turkish Train Line Gave British Steel Its First Night Shift in Over a Decade

It took a contract from thousands of miles away to bring the night shift back to British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant. The eight-figure deal with Turkey’s ERG International Group — covering 36,000 tonnes of rail for the new Ankara–İzmir high-speed line — has led to the resumption of round-the-clock production for the first time in more than ten years, a milestone that has been welcomed across the industry.
The Ankara–İzmir railway is a landmark project: 599km of high-speed track designed to cut travel times between Turkey’s capital and the Aegean coast while reducing carbon emissions. The scale and prestige of the project demanded a supplier capable of consistent, high-quality output — and British Steel, supported by UK Export Finance, was chosen to fill that role.
Twenty-three new employees have joined the Scunthorpe workforce as a direct result of the contract — a small but meaningful increase in headcount at a site where around 3,500 people work. The resumption of overnight production means the plant is once again operating at a level of intensity that reflects its true manufacturing capacity.
Industry body UK Steel praised the deal and called for the government to build on this momentum with structural reforms, particularly around energy costs and import safeguards. The director general noted that rail’s complexity and strategic value make it a core part of British Steel’s long-term identity — one worth protecting and investing in.
The night shift’s return is good news, but it does not change the fact that British Steel is losing £1.2 million a day, with total losses since the government takeover at £359 million. The story of Scunthorpe is one of extraordinary resilience — but also of a plant that still needs a comprehensive solution, not just a contract.