High Speed One was put on the block in June and was seen as one of the most attractive assets likely to be sold by the Coalition as it seeks to reduce Britain's national debt of £952bn. Other assets earmarked for potential privatisation are the Dartford Crossing, the Tote, the state's 49pc holding in National Air Traffic Services – to which the Government has appointed Bank of America Merrill Lynch to advise on its strategic options – and Royal Mail.