OREANDA-NEWS. February 20, 2015. Tata Steel today announced the signing of a prestigious contract to supply highly wear-resistant rail for the Crossrail project beneath the heart of London.

The Crossrail route will serve 40 stations and travel more than 100km from Reading and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21km tunnels below central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

Tata Steel has already commenced deliveries to the Crossrail project, and will ultimately supply the project with more than 57km of its heat treated, wear-resistant rail. In total 7,000 tonnes of Tata Steel rail will be used to create one of Europe's largest railway and infrastructure projects.

During 2015, Crossrail's major tunnelling works will conclude and the focus will shift towards fit-out and implementing railway systems within the tunnels and stations. Alstom, TSO and Costain Limited Joint Venture (ATCjv) have been appointed to provide the tunnel fit-out, including track and train power supply, in the central area which extends east under London from the Royal Oak tunnel portal at Paddington.

Tata Steel rail will be installed across the route.

G?rard Glas, Tata Steel's Rail Sector Head, said: "The Crossrail project will have a huge impact on improving the commuting experience in London and we are delighted to be a part of that.

"Our premium heat-treated rail is produced using a unique patented process which ensures it has exceptional wear resistance.

"Rather than using traditional methods of heating and cooling, Tata Steel has developed a system where the rail moves through an induction furnace which uses an electromagnetic field to heat the steel to 950°C. The rail is then rapidly cooled using compressed air. The resulting uniquely low residual stresses provide further protection against risk of rail failure compared to other in-line heat treatment processes."

And he added: "This combination of innovation and a close working relationship with the customer means Tata Steel is able to provide the best possible solution for this historic new line."

Steel will be manufactured at Tata Steel's Scunthorpe site in the UK before being rolled at the company's Hayange mill in northern France.

Mike Greenwood, ATCjv Project Director said: "We are delighted to have awarded the contract for the supply of rail to Tata Steel and look forward to their involvement in helping us deliver a world class railway."

About Tata Steel's European operations

Tata Steel is Europe's second largest steel producer, with steelmaking in the UK and Netherlands, and manufacturing plants across Europe. The company supplies products and services to the most demanding markets, including construction, automotive, packaging, rail, lifting & excavating, energy & power and aerospace. The combined Tata Steel group is one of the world's largest steel producers, with a steel capacity of more than 28 million tonnes and 80,000 employees across five continents.