Rail services may not be back to normal until at least May, the Rail Regulator has warned.

Tom Winsor, who was appointed rail watchdog two years ago, says the rail disruption that has followed the October Hatfield derailment could continue until May - at least two weeks after Railtrack's Easter target.

Mr Winsor said: "I think that there will be substantial progress as January and February go on and by Easter we should have very substantial progress towards full recovery but I do not know when full recovery will take place and the train operators don't know."

The Rail Regulator has told Railtrack to produce recovery plans specifically tailored for the needs of the train operating companies.

Railtrack has until January 18 to produce a route-by-route recovery plan for the railways.

If the the plans are not produced on time, Mr Winsor has the power to impose hefty fines on the beleaguered company.

Yesterday, Railtrack was reeling from a damning report by a passenger group which showed public confidence in the railways had sunk to "probably its lowest point ever".

The report coincided with the near-collision between two commuter trains outside Victoria station in Central London on Tuesday night.

The near-collision between the two Sussex-bound Connex South Central trains was only averted by the swift action taken by signalman Les Hayes who cut the power to both trains.

The two trains finished only feet from each other.

Railtrack and Connex have launched an immediate inquiry.