Out of interest, is your SNCF ticket a CIV^▸ (International Convention for the transportation of Passengers) ticket?  If it isn't, they are probably doing this as they are a large shareholder in Eurostar (still 50%?)

Don't be silly 

My understanding is that whilst in the tunnel, the TM remains in the rear half of the train.  In the event of a fire in the front half, coaches 9 and 10 can be uncoupled and the train driven out of the tunnel by the TM (who is a trained driver).

Does anyone know exactly what this ticket type is?  I see that it appears on the NFM^▸ (National Fares Manual), usually at around half the price of the cheapest advance fare but it is never available to buy online.  Is this some special rate?

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website will sell the ticket, it also shows on the National Fares Manual.

Probably not as a one-off, but I need to make a number of journeys twice per week, for quite a few weeks (so a weekly/monthly ticket isn't an option).

Is it possible to use a Plusbus ticket without actually having taken (or any intention to use) the rail part of the ticket?

I was looking at the day ticket prices for Bristol.  A bus ticket from First costs ^4 off peak, or ^4.30 peak.

With a railcard, a ticket from Stapleton Road to Bristol TM^‡(resolve)+Bus costs ^3.10, which is also valid during the peak time.

The Plusbus ticket also allows travel on other operators and the boundary is pretty much the same.

If I bought the rail ticket online (in advance), I'm assuming it would be ok to travel only on the bus and not use the train journey?

I've only ever been to Bedminster station once, but didn't travel as it was quicker to walk to BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) rather than wait for the next train, so I never actually entered the station (just looked at the boards before the underpass).  Is there any other entrance to the station, other than via the underpass?

Plenty of updates to enjoy on the FGW website

Just looked on Avantix Traveller (the National Fares Manual) and there isn't a fare from any Severn Beach Line station to 0035, which seems a little weird.

If the conductor wasn't happy to let you off the Shirehampton - Bristol fare, would it be possible to buy BRI - 0035 then ask the conductor to issue an excess ticket to Shirehampton (which in theory shouldn't cost anything?)

The FAQ^▸ (Frequently Asked Questions) section on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) branded Trainline site also says there is a ^10 admin fee for lost tickets.  Not sure if they charge an admin fee at the station?

You've got to love this one on the old FGW^▸ (First Great Western) ex-Wessex services:

"Welcome aboard, please listen to the following announcement for your safety.  Please familiarise yourself with the safety information located on posters in the passenger saloon.  Emergency door opening procedures are located close to the doors.  Please make sure all luggage is safely stowed in the overhead rack and when you leave the train please mind the gap between the train and the platform.  And take care when you alight.  Thank you."

Filton could better be called Filton Bristol, or simply just Filton.

There are a couple of other stations whose named I'd like to cut short:
Rhoose Cardiff International Airport
Southampton Airport Parkway

Even Portsmouth & Southsea could have the Southsea cut - especially as it is a fair distance from Southsea.

I was at London Victoria earlier this week and was stood near the platform for the Gatwick Express.  The automated announcements were awful - how many times can you say Gatwick in one announcement!?

"Platform 14 for the xx:xx Gatwick Express service to Gatwick Airport, calling at Gatwick Airport only.  A trolley service of drinks and light refreshments is available on this train.  Platform 14 for the xx:xx Gatwick Express service to Gatwick Airport."

Then "The train now stood at Platform 14 is the xx:xx Gatwick Express service to Gatwick Airport, calling at Gatwick Airport only.  Platform 14 for the xx:xx Gatwick Express service to Gatwick Airport."

How many times do they need to remind us that the Gatwick Express goes to Gatwick Airport?  Surely its obvious from its name?

Then once I was on my train, I was told at every stop "Welcome aboard the Southern Service to Southampton Central and Bognor Regis, calling at xxxxxxxxx.  This train will split at Horsham  Coaches 1-4 will cotinue to Southampton Central, Coaches 5-8 will continue to Bognor Regis.  This is coach 2 of 8."

Every so often, I was reminded that I was sitting in coach 2 of 8 and that the train would split at Horsham.

Are people really stupid enough to need to be molly cuddled by the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) like this?

Also the local hospital trust and Bristol University jointly provide a free bus service from BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) to the various hospitals and main university precinct.  I've never used it so I'm not sure if/how they check that you are eligible to use the service but is certainly free for hospital and university staff.

Something I'd like to see is some competition on the Portsmouth-Cardiff route.  There isn't really one existing operator who suits the entire route, so why not let several operate the route and let passengers choose which train they take.  SWT^▸ (South West Trains) already have services between Bristol and Salisbury, so these could be increased in frequency and extended to either Southampton or Portsmouth.  Alternatively, a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) like Wessex Trains would be most suited to the route.

In addition, why should FGW^▸ (First Great Western) operate the only Brighton-Salisbury-Bath-Bristol service?  Surely a service operated by Southern (perhaps extending one of their Brighton-Southampton services) would increase competition and service on the route?

A year or so ago when the Sunday Westbury-Bristol buses were operating, I only ever had my ticket checked when attempting to enter BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) through that tunnel that takes you into the subway (the bus stops somewhere at the side of the station).  The check was simply that you had a ticket - not that it was valid for that service.  Many people (including myself on occassions) walked away from the bus and made our own way out of the drop-off area without having tickets checked (after all, why would I want to walk all the way through the station just to come back out again!)