British Steel has supplied over 21,000 metres of rails produced at Scunthorpe to extend the Midland Metro Alliance between Wednesbury and Brierley Hill. This project is currently the largest of its kind being constructed in the UK.
The extension will be completed in two phases, with the first phase to Dudley town centre projected to commence passenger services by late 2024. In the second phase, the route will be extended further to Brierley Hill.
To review and endorse the manufacturing processes and product quality, Colas Rail, a partner in the Midland Metro Alliance, visited British Steel’s manufacturing facilities in Scunthorpe.
British Steel and Colas Rail worked together to identify suitable locations through joint site visits to overcome the challenge of safe storage and handling of more than 850 tonnes of rail. All rails were delivered as scheduled during the summer of 2023.
Darren Cole, British Steel Account Manager, expressed satisfaction with securing the order and providing excellent solutions for customer supply chain requirements. Supplying UK Steel to UK rail networks is crucial for the broader UK economy, offering substantial environmental and social advantages in addition to our top-notch products. We anticipate future supplies to the West Midlands network.
Metro Mayor for the West Midlands, Andy Street, has pledged his commitment to using UK-made steel whenever possible in significant projects within the region by signing the UK Steel Charter.
He stated, “By signing the UK Steel Charter, we are demonstrating our dedication to supporting British steel and promoting well-paid, highly skilled manufacturing jobs and training opportunities that will benefit the local community throughout our region.
“This initiative can help increase the production of high-quality steel in Britain and contribute to the supply of domestically made steel, thus positively impacting the West Midlands projects and the wider UK economy in the coming months and years.”
