Sittingbourne to Bournemouth on Sunday

[youngpete]

My grandson is travelling from Sittingbourne to Bournemouth on Sunday with a Super Off Peak Return (He returns late on Thursday) and on Sunday has been routed
Sittingbourne to London Bridge, (Southeastern)
London Bridge to Paddington via the underground
Paddington to Reading (GWR)
and finally Reading to Bournemouth. (Cross Country)

Whilst this is (or appears to be) a valid itinery is he likely to have any problems at Paddington with either the Underground or GWR gatelines?

His return is the more normal routeing,
Bournemouth to Clapham Junction
Clapham Junction to Victoria
Victoria to Sittingbourne.

 

[Haywain]

Whilst this is (or appears to be) a valid itinery is he likely to have any problems at Paddington with either the Underground or GWR gatelines?

He might have a problem with the underground as there is a strike from Sunday to Friday. It depends what time he is travelling as the strike starts late in the afternoon.

 

[bigfoote]

BBC article about the strikes. There's an image with full info about all TfL services all weekend. Was unable to embed image directly

 

[talldave]

In view of the tube strikes, I would use Thameslink & Elizabeth Line to get from London Bridge to Paddington (changing at Farringdon). He could stay on the Elizabeth Line to Reading.

 

[30907]

The reason for the unusual routing is (1) Sittingbourne trains are diverted into Cannon Street because the Victoria line is closed for engineeing work and
(2) Waterloo-Bournemouth trains are diverted via Guildford and Fareham ditto.

His alternative, which I presume is slower* but might be easier, is to go from London Br (platform 8/9?) to Waterloo East, walk through to the main station, and go direct to Bournemouth.
But the route he has been offered is perfectly valid.

* he will just miss the hourly Bournemouth train

 

[yorksrob]

If it were me, I'd probably go for the diverted Waterloo route.

 

[youngpete]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Much appreciated. Will actually be travelling early afternoon on the Underground so if he goes that way theer should be no problem.