Privacy policy
Effective October 19, 2026.
DC by Train has no accounts, no ads, no analytics and no tracking. This page says exactly what the app sends and where.
What the app sends to our server
| When | What is sent | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Showing the map | A request for train and service data to api.dcbytrain.com. Like any internet request it carries your IP address. | To show live trains. |
| You ask the assistant a question | The text of your question; the station or place you selected, if any; a random identifier created for this installation of the app; and, only if "Show my location" is on, the name of your nearest Metro station (not your coordinates). | To answer you, and to limit how many questions one installation can ask. |
The identifier is not linked to your name, email or Apple ID, and it can reset if you delete the app. We do not keep access logs of map requests, and we do not store the text of your questions.
The assistant and Anthropic
To write an answer, our server forwards your question (and the selected place and nearest station, if present) to Anthropic's Claude API, which is processed under Anthropic's terms and privacy policy. Please do not put personal information in your questions.
Your location
Location is off by default and is only used if you turn on "Show my location" in the menu. Your coordinates are used on your phone to show where you are and to find your nearest station. To work out walking times, the app sends coordinates (yours and the destination's) to Apple's Maps service; Apple's privacy policy applies to that. Your coordinates are never sent to our server. You can turn location off in the menu or in iOS Settings at any time.
What we do not do
- We do not sell or share your data, and we do not use it for advertising.
- We do not track you across apps or websites.
- We do not collect your name, email, contacts, photos or payment details.
Children
The app does not ask for personal information. If you believe a child has sent personal information in an assistant question, contact us and we will remove it if it exists.
Changes
If this policy changes, the new version will be posted here with a new date.