COMMUTERS face weeks possibly months of disruption as Chiltern Railways deal with the aftermath of Thursday's tunnel collapse at Gerrards Cross.

An emergency timetable has been operating since the incident, with bosses at the train company and Network Rail admitting that they have no idea when timetables will return to normal.

Cath Proctor, managing director of Chiltern Railways, said: "My staff are working round the clock to make journeys as smooth as possible, in very difficult circumstances.We are making every effort to provide the best possible service. We will provide updates to passengers until the line at Gerrards Cross re-opens."

A spokesman from Network Rail said: "We are still talking weeks rather than days. It will be towards the end of the week until it's possible to make a firm estimate."

For thousands of people flocking to London at the weekend, Thursday's incident could not have come at a worse time. Extra-long trains laid on for those travelling to Saturday's Live8 concert were cancelled, diverted or delayed. Those attending England's clash with Australia in the Lord's final, tennis at Wimbledon and the Gay Pride rally had to find alternative routes.

Commuters heading home on Thursday evening were the first to experience the chaos.

A 30-minute train journey out of London for businessman Greg Jelly took almost two hours.

The 37-year-old, who pays around £2,000-a-year for his rail season ticket, said: "I've no idea what I'm going to do about getting into London for the next few weeks."

James Pilbeam, a 25-year-old accountant from Sands, suffered a similar fate.

He tried to catch a train home from London Marylebone at 11pm on Thursday, but eventually got a bus back at 2am, which went via West Ruislip, Beaconsfield and High Wycombe.

Michelle Taylor, from High Wycombe, was also forced to take the tube from London to Amersham on Thursday and then catch a lift home with a relative.

"I often travel on the train into London and it's quite alarming to think that even though that tunnel seems to have been almost complete for months it can suddenly collapse without warning."