The crisis on Britain's rail network could begin to ease - just in time for the country's roads to be paralysed by a second fuel blockade.

In an exclusive interview with the Evening Press today regional Railtrack boss Nicholas Pollard confirmed that November 13 had been provisionally set as the date when the section of line through Hatfield should reopen.

That would mean the worst of the rail delays being over, he said; even though it could take several more weeks for every one of the 200 sections of rail in the London and North East area that had been identified as needing inspection to be checked.

But Britain's weary commuters may simply be swapping one form of travel misery for another.

November 13 is also the deadline fuel protesters have set for the Government to reduce the tax on fuel. If Chancellor Gordon Brown fails to do so, Britain could find itself in the midst of another fuel blockade.

Truckers have already talked of a 'go-slow' convoy that will set off from Jarrow bound for London and that could pass straight through the middle of York on November 11 or 12.

The Government meanwhile has announced that 1,000 troops are trained and will be on standby to drive oil tankers in a bid to beat any blockade.

But oil industry bosses have warned it would be 'impossible' to guarantee business as usual if the blockade goes ahead.

Police in York say they are attempting to contact the organisers of the planned Jarrow to London convoy for more information about timing and the number of vehicles likely to pass through York.

York police chief Gary Barnett said they would be ready to deal with the situation if it arose, but would not be confrontational.

"We will try to ensure that people's right to decent protest is upheld," he said. "But we will also ensure public safety and that people's right to go about their ordinary business is upheld."