The choice was made not only because technical capabilities of Britain, the birthplace of railways, was highly evaluated but also because Harry Parkes, the Biritish minister in Japan, had presented constructive proposals on a railway in Japan.
これは鉄道発祥国イギリスの技術力を評価したことと、日本の鉄道について建設的な提言を行っていた、駐日公使ハリー・パークスの存在も大きかった。