British Steel has opened a £10m stocking facility with capacity to hold 25,000 tonnes of finished rail.

The new rail hub is based at British Steel’s headquarters in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, where the vast majority of rail laid in the UK is made.

The investment forms part of British Steel’s strategy to support Network Rail in its delivery of track maintenance, renewal and enhancement activities.

This dedicated storage facility will ensure that there is enough rail stock as and when Network Rail requires it. From this location, rails can be safely handled, stored and available for loading.

Craig Harvey, British Steel’s commercial director, rail, said: “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 UK.”

When fully stocked, the storage facility will hold around 25,000 tonnes of 108m finished rail – largely 56E1 and 60E2 section rails.

All rails stocked in this facility...