UK Secures 5-Year Rail Steel Deal Protecting Thousands of Jobs

The UK government has finalized a £500 million, five-year contract between Network Rail and British Steel, securing over 2,700 jobs at the Scunthorpe plant and supporting thousands more in the supply chain. The deal, which follows a government intervention in April 2025 to prevent the plant's closure, will see British Steel supply at least 337,000 tonnes of rail track, meeting 80% of Network Rail’s needs. The remaining specialist rail orders will be awarded to European manufacturers to ensure supply security. This landmark agreement is seen as a transformative boost for British Steel, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to domestic manufacturing and economic growth in industrial regions. The deal also follows a new UK-US trade agreement aimed at lowering tariffs and protecting jobs in key sectors like steel. Government officials and business leaders have hailed the contract as a vital step in stabilizing the UK steel industry and maintaining the long-standing partnership between Network Rail and British Steel.