Tata Steel today launched a new state-of-the-art facility which will produce train track capable of lasting up to three times longer than standard rail.

Tata Steel, Europe’s second largest steelmaker, has won a contract to supply rail track and steel sleeper plate to Network Rail for at least five years.

Tata Steel has won an order to manufacture 60,000 tonnes of high-quality rail for a new high-speed line linking the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. The new railway will allow millions of pilgrims to cross the 276 miles (444km) between the two cities at speeds of 200mph (320kmh). The line will cross desert, withstanding temperatures ranging from freezing to 50oC, as well as sand storms, flash flooding and shifting dunes.

Rail from Tata Steel has helped get the railway line between Northern Ireland’s two biggest cities back on track – and resulted in a further £1 million order from the country’s public transport provider.

Casablanca’s first tramway line, which has been entirely constructed from Tata Steel rail, has been opened by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. The tramway line consists of 7,500 metric tonnes (138 linear kilometres) of 41GPU grooved rails produced in the company’s rail mill in Hayange, France.

Tata Steel has installed two new modular platform systems in the UK, one at West Drayton Station, and the other at Langley Station. These modular systems provide a cost-efficient, quick way to design and install passenger platforms and can be customised with all types of surfaces and finishes. West Drayton was installed with only a weekend of traffic disruption, and Langley needed no traffic interruption.

Tata Steel launched its new high performance grooved rail at InnoTrans in Berlin. This rail is designed to reduce life cycle costs through its high wear resistance and its ability to be weld-repaired using Tata Steel’s patented weld process.

Tata Steel has received a letter of intent from Eiffage Rail for the supply of high quality rail for a new 182km (113 mile) high-speed line in France

Tata Steel announced yesterday that it will invest more than €12 million (£10m) in new technology so it can produce longer wear-resistant rails at its French steel mill.

Innovative railway track which reduces the noise of trains passing over has been installed for the first time in the UK, at Blackfriars station in London.