Beat me to it, I generally buy one of these as I drive sometimes, the priv rate Flexi basically allows you the price of the priv day return, but available for residential travel - which obviously a priv day return isn't valid if going to or from work.
Some different options to look into to here.
You do not purchase a smartcard, they are free of charge and I would recommend getting one of the RSTL smartcards as that gives you far greater flexibility over buying a Flexi-season, with no requirement to submit a paper request 7 days in advance.
A Flexi-season gives you 8 days travel within a 28 day period. It is, obviously, somewhat cheaper than a monthly season which gives you the full month of travel. The Flexi-season is best loaded onto a smartcard, which you need to activate each day before you use it - if your starting station has barriers it will activate at the barrier. Ultimately, it's about convenience and not spending money you don't need to. It's a happy medium between a Priv-rate monthly season and public rate day tickets.
It would certainly be a good option under those circumstances. However, depending on your age and the time your shifts start/end, you might be able to get a discount off the public fare - possibly even an Off-Peak fare, depending on the time of day - using Railcards.
You don't pay for it (it's free) but yes, you need one if you want to buy the Flexi Season through RST Online.
It's more expensive per day than a monthly season ticket, sometimes substantially so - it varies depending on the journey.
You need one if you want to buy a Flexi-season at a station as well.
Even for less than that it may be the cheapest option, compared with public rate day tickets.
Thanks! So you get PRIV as soon as you start?
We have always lost reciprocal travel in the past.
To the best of my knowledge, there’s been no information from RSTL regarding ongoing developments as these companies are taken back. Whether the individual companies, within a specific owning group, retain reciprocal arrangements until the whole process is completed isn't clear. Then again, the whole transition to 'whatever we're called this week' railways is far from complete.
I'd be astonished if there's a TUPE process - they will still be working for the same company. It's the company that will be under new ownership.
I’m fairly certain it’s already been confirmed there’s a change from First MTR Ltd to a South Western Railway Ltd or DfT Operator Ltd, so it won’t be the same company in legal terms. A quick peek at Companies House shows the two separate entities. My legal knowledge in this realm is limited, and I am 99% sure my friend has also mentioned a consultation taking place internally. Always happy to be corrected though! I’m sure we should know more in the coming weeks.
I can confirm that there is a TUPE process when transferring from one operator to another as it is legally a separate company with a different name, so the actual employer will change.
The proposed replacement 'Friends & Family' scheme for SWR got rejected as it's an non contractual benefit and no obligation to continue with such a scheme (based on the FAQ document which was updated earlier in the week).