RailPulse

Privacy Policy

Effective date: 17 August 2026 · Last updated: 17 August 2026 · Developer: Dillu Atluri

This Privacy Policy explains what information RailPulse ("the App", "we", "us") collects, how it is used, and the choices you have. By using the App you agree to the practices described here.

Disclaimer: RailPulse is an independent application and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Indian Railways, IRCTC, or the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Train and PNR information is sourced from third-party data providers and is provided for convenience only. Always verify critical journey details through official railway channels.

1. Information We Collect

a) Location data (including background location)

Prominent disclosure: The App collects location data to power the destination alarm and live-tracking features — to wake you before your train reaches your destination station — even when the App is closed or not in use. Background location is collected only while a destination alarm or live tracking is active, and stops when the alarm fires, is dismissed, or is turned off.

Your device's GPS position is processed on your device to calculate the distance to your destination station, to show your position on the map, and to check whether you are on the train.
Location used for the alarm, the map, and on-train detection is processed on your device in real time and is not stored on our servers or sold to anyone. The only exception is the optional live-location sharing feature described in section (e), which you must actively turn on.
You can revoke location permission at any time in your device settings. The alarm, map, and tracking features will stop working, but the rest of the App remains usable.

b) PNR and journey information

When you enter a PNR number or train number, it is sent through our backend service to our railway data provider to retrieve booking status, train schedules, and live running status.
PNR numbers and saved trips are stored locally on your device so you can re-open them quickly. We do not store your PNR or booking details on our servers.

c) Emergency contact

If you save a personal emergency contact for the SOS feature, the name and phone number are stored only on your device. They are never uploaded, shared, or transmitted to us or any third party. Tapping SOS simply opens your phone's dialer.

d) Platform confirmations (community-contributed)

When you confirm or correct the platform number for a train at a station, that response (train number, station, platform, and your yes/no vote) is sent to our server and combined with other users' responses to show a community-verified platform.
This data is anonymous — it is not linked to your name, account, or device identity, because RailPulse has no user accounts. We store only the aggregate counts needed to display community confirmations; we do not store who voted.

e) Live location sharing (optional, user-initiated)

You control this. Location sharing only happens when you choose to share your live journey. It is never automatic.

When you tap "Share live location", RailPulse creates a temporary share link and periodically sends the train's current position (latitude and longitude) to our server so that anyone you give the link to can see the train move on a map.
Anyone with the link can view the shared position while the share is active. Only share the link with people you trust.
Each share automatically expires after a short period (about 3 hours) and the position data is deleted from our server after it expires. You are not required to create a share to use the rest of the App.

f) What we do NOT collect

We do not collect your name, email, Aadhaar, payment information, contacts list, photos, or messages.
We do not use any advertising, analytics, or crash-reporting tools. We do not require an account or sign-up to use the App.

2. How We Use Information

Data	Purpose	Where it is processed
Location (foreground)	Show your position on the map; calculate distance to the next station; detect if you are on the train	On your device only
Location (background)	Trigger the destination alarm at your chosen distance	On your device only
PNR / train number	Fetch booking status, schedules, and live train status	Sent via our backend to our data provider
Emergency contact	One-tap SOS calling	On your device only
Platform confirmations	Show community-verified platform numbers	Stored on our server (anonymous, aggregate)
Shared live location	Let people you choose watch your train's journey via a link	Stored temporarily on our server; auto-deleted after the share expires

3. Third-Party Services

The App uses the following third-party services, each governed by its own privacy policy:

Our railway data provider — railway data (train status, PNR status, schedules), accessed through our backend service.
Cloudflare — hosts our backend service, which proxies railway data requests and stores platform confirmations and temporary live-location shares. Cloudflare Privacy Policy
Google Maps Platform — map display. Google Privacy Policy

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information with anyone. We do not share data with advertisers.

4. Data Storage, Retention, and Deletion

Saved trips, PNRs, settings, and your emergency contact live only in the App's local storage on your device.
Platform confirmations are stored as anonymous aggregate counts and are not tied to you.
Live-location shares are stored only for the life of the share (about 3 hours) and are then automatically deleted from our server.
You can delete all locally stored data at any time via Settings → Clear App Data inside the App, or by clearing the App's storage / uninstalling the App from your device.

5. Security

Communication with our backend and data provider occurs over encrypted (HTTPS) connections. Locally stored data is protected by your device's standard app sandboxing. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we take reasonable measures appropriate to the sensitivity of the data handled.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Permissions: You may grant or revoke location, notification, and other permissions at any time in your device settings.
Location sharing: Live-location sharing is optional and only occurs when you start it. Shares expire automatically.
Deletion: Clear the App's data or uninstall it to erase all locally held information. For any server-held data (such as an active share), contact us and we will assist.
Grievances (India): In accordance with applicable Indian law, including the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, you may contact us with any concern at the email below. We aim to respond within 30 days.

7. Children's Privacy

The App is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the App, contact us and we will assist in removing it.

8. Emergency Services Notice

The SOS feature places calls through your phone's dialer to helpline numbers (such as railway and medical helplines) or your saved contact. We are not responsible for the availability or response of any helpline or emergency service. In a life-threatening emergency, always contact official emergency services directly.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be announced within the App, and the "Last updated" date above will be revised. Continued use of the App after changes means you accept the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or your data:

Dillu Atluri
Email: supportrailpulse@gmail.com
Address: Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India, 517501