British Steel has secured an order from Australia for 20,000 steel sleepers, the company said in a press release. The supply was arranged through Cold Forge, its exclusive Australian distributor, which secured the contract with Arc Infrastructure, operator of a 5,500 km rail network in Western Australia.
The type 436 narrow-gauge sleepers will replace timber sleepers on the Midland Railway between Mingenew and Carnamah under the Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements (ASCI) programme, a key route for grain transport to Geraldton Port. Construction is expected to begin mid-2026, upgrading 96 km of track and increasing axle load capacity from 16 to 19 tons.
The sleepers were rolled at British Steel’s Scunthorpe Rail and Section Mill and will be processed by Trackwork in Wallasey.
British Steel said steel sleepers were selected for their lower installation and maintenance costs, transport efficiency, reduced ballast needs, and end-of-life scrap value, offering over 40pct savings compared with concrete alternatives.
