UK to sell right to run London-Channel Tunnel link

LONDON: The British government says it is selling the right to operate the high-speed rail line from London to the Channel Tunnel.

News reports suggest a winning bid would be around 1.5 billion pounds ($2.2 billion).

The Department for Transport said Monday that the winning bidder would get the rights to operate and maintain the 68-mile (109-kms) line for 30 years, and collect revenue from track access charges paid by train companies.

The main users of the line are Eurostar, which provides passenger service to Paris and Brussels, and the commuter operator Southeastern Trains.