Privacy Policy

Your data, your control. We keep it simple.

📅 Rail Rota 👥 Rail Rota Companion

Effective Date: 29 July 2026  |  Last Updated: 29 July 2026

1 Introduction

This privacy policy applies to both Rail Rota (the "Main App") and Rail Rota Companion (the "Companion App"), collectively referred to as "the Apps" or "our Services". The Apps are developed and maintained by an independent developer ("we", "us", or "our").

Rail Rota is a personal roster management app designed for London Underground train drivers to view and manage their duty schedules.

Rail Rota Companion is a read-only companion app that allows a driver's partner, family, or friends to follow the driver's live working schedule.

We are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your information.

2 Data We Collect

No account or login is required to use either app. We do not collect email addresses, passwords, or government-issued identification.

2.1 Data You Provide Rail Rota

Data Purpose Stored Where
Display Name Shown on the Shift Swap Board & shared with Companion users Device & Firebase
Phone Number (optional) Displayed on swap requests so colleagues can contact you Device & Firebase
Imported Duty Book (PDF) Parsed locally to generate your roster calendar Device only
Duty Overrides & Notes Manual shift edits, daily notes, annual leave, sickness records Device & Firebase
E.I.R.F. Records Incident report drafts you create Device only
Notepad Text Freeform notes (door codes, personal reminders) Device only

2.2 Data You Provide Companion

Data Purpose Stored Where
Sync Code Links you to a driver's schedule (entered manually or scanned via QR) Device only

2.3 Automatically Generated Data Both Apps

3 How We Use Your Data

Purpose Applies To Legal Basis
Display your duty roster and calendar Both Contractual necessity
Sync schedule to Companion users in real time Both Legitimate interest / Consent
Cloud backup & restore across devices Rail Rota Contractual necessity
Facilitate shift swaps between drivers Rail Rota Consent
Serve advertisements (free tier) Rail Rota Consent
Process in-app purchases Rail Rota Contractual necessity

4 Third-Party Services

The Apps use the following third-party services, each of which has its own privacy policy:

4.1 Google Firebase / Cloud Firestore Both Apps

We use Firebase Cloud Firestore to store cloud backups and enable real-time schedule syncing between Rail Rota and the Companion App. Data is stored in Google's cloud infrastructure and is identified only by your anonymous Sync Code.

Firebase Privacy Policy →

4.2 Google AdMob Rail Rota

We display banner advertisements via Google AdMob in the free version of Rail Rota. AdMob may collect device identifiers and usage data for ad personalisation. You can opt out of personalised ads in your device's settings.

Google Privacy Policy →

4.3 RevenueCat Rail Rota

We use RevenueCat to manage in-app subscriptions and purchases. RevenueCat processes anonymous identifiers to track subscription status. It does not receive your name, email, or roster data.

RevenueCat Privacy Policy →

4.4 Expo Notifications Both Apps

Push notification tokens may be generated to deliver local notifications (e.g. shift reminders, schedule update alerts). These tokens are stored on-device and are not shared with any third party.

5 Companion App Pairing & Data Sharing

When a Rail Rota user shares their Sync Code (via QR code or text), they are granting the recipient read-only access to the following information:

Important: Sharing your Sync Code is entirely voluntary. You can revoke access at any time by generating a new Sync Code from the Backup & Restore screen, which will immediately disconnect all linked Companion apps.

The Companion App is strictly read-only. Companion users cannot edit, delete, or modify any of your data.

6 Data Storage & Security

Local Storage

The majority of your data is stored locally on your device using AsyncStorage (encrypted at rest by your device's OS). This includes your imported duty books, E.I.R.F. records, notepad content, tracked trains, and app preferences.

Cloud Storage

When you use Cloud Backup or the Companion App sync feature, a subset of your data is stored in Google Cloud Firestore. This data is:

7 Data Retention

8 Your Rights

Under applicable data protection laws (including UK GDPR), you have the right to:

9 Children's Privacy

The Apps are not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.

10 Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be reflected by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the Apps after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11 Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, your data, or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us at:

Email: railrotaapp@gmail.com