BBC - Have UK businesses missed the train in Ethiopia?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24869433?

Across the Ethiopian countryside 2,000km (1,243 miles) of railway is being built, the first phase of an endeavour to create a new 5,000km network.

Currently no British companies are involved, despite Ethiopia approaching the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) for assistance at the start, and the project being constructed according to official UK railway industry standards.

I know of a number of railway industry companies quite local to where I live who are active around the world in provision of rail rolling stock, systems and (?) infrastructure.   "Westinghouse Brake and Signal - London, Chippenham and Calcutta" said an old piece of signalling equipment up for auction, and a very active part of that company is now a part of Knorr Bremse - an international with a German name, employing many hundreds in high tech work in Wiltshire, with modern contracts including major work on the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) as an example.  Although they may not be first level contractors, I would hope that work for Ethiopia could come to Wessex, even if it's sufficiently "via, via" to miss the publicity machines!