RAIL INVESTIGATORS are looking into what caused a section of the railway tunnel at Gerrards Cross to collapse last night, causing commuter chaos.

A section of the tunnel collapsed around 7.30pm last night near the station, which is currently subject to development by supermarket giant Tesco.

The area where it happened is the planned location for the new store car park.

No train was in the tunnel when it happened but the driver of a stationary train at the station alerted authorities.

At midnight, teams from Network Rail, including structural engineers, tunnel specialists, and the Health and Safety Executive, investigated the hole left by the collapse.

Following an assessment they will decide the next course of action.

Gerrards Cross Station has closed and replacement services and buses have been provided.

Chiltern Railway tickets will be accepted on alternate services by Virgin Trains, First Great Western Link, Central Trains, Silverlink Trains and London Underground.

Passengers travelling between the Midlands and London are advised to use Virgin Trains to and from Birmingham New Street, Birmingham International, Coventry and London Euston.

Passengers travelling to and from Leamington Spa and Banbury are advised to use Virgin Trains services to Oxford and Reading - for further travel on First Great Western trains to London Paddington.

Replacement buses have been provided for services between Beaconsfield and Amersham, High Wycombe and Maidenhead, and Denham to West Ruislip - for further travel to London.

Trains will run every hour between Birmingham Snow Hill and London Marylebone going via Princes Risborough and Aylesbury.

They will run every half hour between Aylesbury and London Marylebone going via Stoke Mandeville, Wendover, Great Missenden and Amersham.

For more see Tuesday's Midweek