The London to Folkestone Channel Tunnel rail link is expected to go on sale today with big investors lining up to buy it.

Foreign firms - including France's Groupe Eurotunnel - are thought to be interested in running the 68 mile High Speed One route.

It is thought the link could have an asking price of around £1.5billion.

The sale process is expected to be launched this afternoon by the Department of Transport, after initial plans were announced by the previous government.

It is hoped the sale of the route between London's St Pancras and Folkestone will help raise funds for new rail services to new destinations.

Currently Eurostar runs more than 50 services a day on the line and Southeastern run 170 services.

London & Continental Railways, which owns High Speed One and the UK arm of Eurostar, also and has property holdings around its station at Ebbsfleet.

John Keefe, head of communications for potential bidder EuroTunnel, said: "A private owner of the link would certainly be looking to get the maximum benefit out of it for the people of Kent.

"The principle way to make money out of an asset like that is to see more trains running on it.

"More trains for more people that would definitely be good for everyone.

"This rail link is unique because its the only high speed line in the UK - so it would need an owner with a particular kind of skill and market knowledge."

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus Chief Executive said: "Passengers will not worry who is running the high speed infrastructure as long as any competition works in the overall passenger interest, fares represent value for money and the quality of the stations is maintained. St Pancras, in the last National Passenger Survey, was the top rated of Britain's busiest stations".

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