HAMPSHIRE rail passengers are facing an Easter weekend of travelling misery after Network Rail began major rail works over one of the busiest weekends of the year.

The company will tomorrow start work a £130m resignalling project in the Basingstoke area Passengers are being warned to expect long delays on all mainline services until April 15.

More than 90 buses will be drafted in during the period to compensate for the disruptions, which could see trains to London take an hour longer than normal.

Rail bosses say the work is necessary and will make services more reliable in the long term.

However rail users' groups have slammed the move, voicing concerns over whether the work will be completed on time.