Privatisation-mad ministers were yesterday set to palm off flagship rail franchise East Coast to Eurostar, just after they sell off Britain’s shares in the cross-channel train company. 

Speculation is rife that the Department for Transport (DfT) is poised to announce its preferred bidder in the next few days, though a government spokesman denied the winner will be announced today.

Tipped for the contract is a joint bid between Keolis and Eurostar, both of which are majority owned by the French state.

East Coast is due to change hands in the new year after a breakneck coalition effort to get the state-run service back into private hands ahead of the election in May. 

The line, which runs between London King’s Cross and Scotland, is currently in public hands after two successive private companies failed to run it properly.

Campaigners have pointed to its success as a reason to bring other franchises back into public ownership — but ruthless ministers have ploughed ahead with the sell off.

And the Con-Dems are simultaneously pushing through a fire-sale of the government’s 40 per cent stake in Eurostar.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash branded the privatisation a “national disgrace” based on “hard-right political ideology.” 

“It is simply ludicrous to even contemplate reprivatisation when not only have there been two previous private-sector failures on the East Coast route but when the public-sector rescue operation has been such a stunning success,” he said.

“This is pure industrial vandalism and the strong rumour that the French-state operator is in poll position to mop up this vital, strategic north-south route says it all. 

“This government is happy to have state ownership of our railways as long as it isn’t by the British state, in the interests of the British people.”

And TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes accused the government of a “vindictive anyone-but-the-Brits attitude.”

“The Tories would rather see (East Coast) in French hands,” he said. “They don’t want the voters to have the chance to keep it in the public sector by voting Labour in May.” 

Under Labour proposals state operator Directly Operated Railways, which is currently barred from bidding for rail franchises, would be able to bid during selection rounds.

Edinburgh East Labour MP Sheila Gilmore said: “Passengers recognise the improvements to services that East Coast have made under public ownership over the last few years. 

“They also appreciate that at present, all profits are retained for the benefit of British passengers and taxpayers.

“Ironically if the contract is awarded to (the joint bid of) Keolis, which is largely owned by the French government, ticket revenue may well be reinvested in improved services. 

“Unfortunately these will be services between places like Paris and Lyon or Marseille and Monaco, rather than Edinburgh and London.”

A Department for Transport spokesman refused to comment. 

The government has also shortlisted bids by FirstGroup and a joint Virgin-Stagecoach venture.