Steel industry

The blast furnaces of Port Talbot blow hot and cold for rail freight

Published on 12-09-2024 at 08:15

A panorama of the Port Talbot community and steel works in South Wales. The main railway line runs through the middle of this picture. Image: Wikimedia Commons. © Steve Hill.

The steel works at Port Talbot in South Wales is about to undergo a huge transformation. The decision has been taken to replace the traditional blast furnaces with modern electric arc furnaces. The move will radically alter the production profile of the plant. That development will almost certainly have significant implications for the rail freight operations that currently support the plant.