British Steel has inaugurated a £10m rail stocking facility at its Scunthorpe site, which willbe the largest of its kind in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.
As the nation's sole manufacturer of rail, the new hub is strategically located where the majority of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's rail is produced. This move aligns with British Steel's strategy to bolster the supply of rails to Network Rail, ensuring stock availability on demand.
Craig Harvey, British Steel's Commercial Director, Rail, commented: "We are committed to building the railways of the future, and this investment supports the government's ambition to improve rail travel and connectivity throughout the º£½ÇÊÓƵ."
He further highlighted the significance of their partnership with Network Rail, stating: "It will also enhance our long-term strategic partnership with Network Rail – a partnership which helps millions of º£½ÇÊÓƵ passengers and freight operators enjoy safe, enjoyable, and timely journeys. Together we have an integral role to play in strengthening the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's infrastructure, enabling development, and supporting hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs in the supply chain."
Mr Harvey also noted the ongoing investments by British Steel's owner, Jingye, saying: "The new facility is the latest in a series of major investments in British Steel by our owner, Jingye, which is resolute in its commitment to enhancing our operations and helping us build a sustainable future for our business.", reports .
He concluded by expressing pride in British Steel's status as a global leader in rail production and innovation, asserting that ventures like this ensure the company continues to deliver top-tier products and services.
The Scunthorpe facility, equipped with 11 multi-gantry hoists to lift finished rail stock to customer rolling stock, is poised to dispatch rails that have passed stringent testing and quality assurance checks for immediate provisioning or to be welded into 216m lengths.
Network Rail's supply chains operations director, Julia Territt, affirmed the long-standing partnership with British Steel, saying: "We have a long running relationship with British Steel, who support the delivery of our track maintenance, renewal and enhancement activities," and adding, "Our focus remains on ensuring that we have continued delivery of rail supply, now and into the future, so that we can continue delivering reliable services for our passengers. We're pleased to see the ongoing commitment to supporting the º£½ÇÊÓƵ rail network with the investment in the new facilities in Scunthorpe."
With capacity for about 25,000 tonnes of 108m finished rail, predominately comprising 56E1 and 60E2 section rails, the storage site will bolster rail infrastructure provision.
Mr Harvey commented on the enhanced capabilities, asserting: "British Steel combines dedicated customer service with world-class design and technical consultancy to develop and deliver high-quality rail solutions. Our new stocking facility will help us build upon this, and we look forward to continuing to work with operators, in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and globally, to help them overcome the challenges they face."
Earlier this year, British Steel's Scunthorpe rail facilities secured a lucrative contract to supply rail for a major new rail line in Egypt. In May, British Steel also received planning permission for a 50m long by 12m wide steel rail service building on Mill Field Road, which will facilitate light servicing and inspection of rail wagons under shelter.
Raw materials have been procured to ensure the operation of British Steel's coke blast furnaces until 2025, contradicting reports that production would cease this year. Planning permission has also been granted for British Steel to transition to an electric arc furnace (EAF) at its Scunthorpe site in the future.
