Group Eurotunnel confirms it is very interested in bidding for railway linking capital to continent

Groupe Eurotunnel, which operates the cross-channel tunnel, has said it is very interested in placing a bid for the High Speed 1 line which links the capital to continent.

Jacques Gounon, the firm’s executive chairman, told the Financial Times and other media organisations that he was “looking carefully” at buying it.

Reports suggest that any bidder could expect to pay between £1.5bn and £2.5bn for the line.

German rail firm Deutsche Bas has expressed interest in the sale and infrastructure funds are expected to be potential bidders.

The UK government recently gained permission from the EC to buy back London and Continental Railways, thus swallowing the debt.