Great Central Railway Privacy Policy

Our Privacy Promise

We take your privacy and data security seriously. This Privacy Notice explains how Great Central Railway PLC (“we”, “our”, “us”) collects and processes your personal data when you use our website, interact with us, or use our services — whether you’re booking a ticket, signing up to our newsletter, volunteering, or donating.

Who We Are

Data Controller: Great Central Railway PLC (Company No. 01257394), registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Great Central Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 1RW
Email: data.protection@gcrailway.co.uk

We have appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) who oversees questions about this notice. You may contact the DPO using the details above.

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

The Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of personal data:

Category	Examples
Identity Data	Name, title, date of birth
Contact Data	Address, email, phone number
Payment Data	Card or bank details (handled securely by our payment providers)
Transaction Data	Tickets, merchandise, donations, or services purchased
Marketing & Comms Data	Preferences for receiving updates and offers
Technical Data	IP address, browser type, device data, cookies
Usage Data	How you use our website, services, and facilities
Volunteer or Staff Data (if applicable)	Medical info, training records, HR-related information

 

We also collect and use aggregated data for statistical purposes (e.g. total number of visitors), which does not identify individuals.

We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16 without parental consent.

We do not collect special category data unless it is necessary (e.g. to support disability access requests or operational safety for staff/volunteers).

How We Collect Your Data

We collect personal data via:

• Direct interactions: e.g. buying tickets, signing up for newsletters, donating, joining as a member or volunteer.
• Automated technologies: e.g. cookies, analytics tools, log files.
• Third parties: e.g. payment processors, membership partners, analytics providers.

How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data where we have a lawful basis to do so:

Purpose	Lawful Basis
To process your ticket, booking or donation	Contract
To manage memberships and volunteer relationships	Contract / Legitimate interest
To communicate service updates and send marketing (if opted in)	Consent / Legitimate interest
To comply with legal or regulatory obligations	Legal obligation
To administer and improve our website and services	Legitimate interest

 

We never sell your personal data.

Marketing and Preferences

We only send marketing communications if you have opted in or if we have a legitimate interest and you’re a recent customer. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in emails or by contacting us.

Sharing Your Data

We may share your data with:

• Essential service providers: e.g. payment processors, IT hosts
• Friends of the Great Central Main Line (FoGCML): for managing your membership
• David Clarke Railway Trust: where donations are processed
• Regulators and legal authorities: if required to do so by law

All partners are required to respect the security of your data and use it only for agreed purposes.

Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal data from being lost, accessed, or used in an unauthorised way.

We have procedures in place to deal with suspected data breaches and will notify you and regulators if legally required.

Data Retention

We only keep your personal data for as long as necessary. This varies depending on the nature of the data, but is guided by legal, operational, and tax obligations.

In some cases, we may anonymise your data for research or statistical purposes — this data is no longer linked to you.

Your Rights

You have rights under data protection law, including:

• Access: See what data we hold about you
• Correction: Ask us to fix inaccurate data
• Erasure: Request deletion (subject to legal requirements)
• Objection: Stop us using your data for direct marketing or legitimate interests
• Restriction: Ask us to suspend data processing
• Portability: Have your data transferred to you or a third party
• Withdraw consent: Where consent is used, you can withdraw it at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our DPO. We aim to respond within one month.

Cookies & Analytics

We use cookies and similar tools to understand how people use our website and to improve the experience. You can control your cookie preferences at any time via your browser settings or our cookie banner.

Third-Party Links

Our site may contain links to third-party websites, plug-ins or apps. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. We recommend reading their privacy policies before providing personal data.

Updates to This Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated via our website or by email where appropriate.

Last updated: 19 July 2025
Previous versions: Available on request

DigiTickets Privacy Policy

Policy Owner

This policy is owned and distributed by IT and Compliance manager of Digital Ticketing Systems Limited

Who we are

In this Privacy Policy, references to "we", "us", and "our"" are to Digital Ticketing Systems Limited (Company number 07044584). References to "our Website" or "the Website" are to *.digitickets.co.uk.

Digital Ticketing Systems Limited is the data controller responsible for the personal information collected through this Website.

Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal information:

Information You Provide Directly

When you contact us, make a purchase, register for services, or complete forms on our Website, we may collect information such as:

• Name
• Postal address
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Purchase and booking information
• Any other information voluntarily provided by you

Payment Information

Payments made through our Website are processed by authorised payment service providers. We do not store your full credit or debit card details on our systems.

Our payment providers may process payment information and carry out fraud prevention and verification checks. Where international transfers are required, appropriate safeguards will be applied in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Digital Ticketing Systems is PCI DSS v4.0.1 compliant and are annually assessed/certified.

Website Usage Information

When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Screen resolution
• Operating system
• Referral source
• Pages visited and actions taken on the Website
• Date and time of access

Marketing Preferences

If you choose to receive marketing communications, we will record your preferences and any interactions with our emails, including whether emails are opened or links are clicked.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate our Website, remember your preferences, analyse usage, and improve user experience. Further information is provided in our Cookie Policy below.

How We Use Your Information

We process personal information for the following purposes:

• To provide products and services you request
• To process transactions and fulfil orders
• To provide customer support and after-sales services
• To manage bookings and accounts
• To improve our Website, products, and services
• To ensure Website security and prevent fraud
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations
• To send marketing communications where we have your consent or another lawful basis to do so

Lawful Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we rely on one or more of the following lawful bases:

• Performance of a contract: to provide goods or services you have requested.
• Legal obligation: where processing is necessary to comply with legal requirements.
• Legitimate interests: to manage and improve our business, Website security, and customer experience.
• Consent: where required, including for certain cookies and marketing communications.

Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.

Sharing Your Information

We may share your personal information with:

• Payment processors
• Hosting and IT service providers
• Delivery and fulfilment partners
• Marketing and communications providers
• Analytics and Website performance providers
• Professional advisers and auditors
• Regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, or courts where required by law

All third-party service providers are required to process personal information only on our instructions and in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

We do not sell personal information to third parties.

International Transfers

Where personal information is transferred outside the United Kingdom, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

• Transfers to countries deemed to provide an adequate level of protection; or
• Approved contractual safeguards, such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) or equivalent mechanisms.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including satisfying legal, accounting, regulatory, and reporting requirements.

Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it is processed.

Cookie Policy

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help websites function properly, remember preferences, improve performance, and provide analytics information.

How We Use Cookies

We use the following categories of cookies:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the operation of the Website and cannot be disabled through our cookie management tools.

Cookie	Purpose	Duration
PHPSESSID	Maintains user session and shopping basket functionality	Session / 24 minutes
dtAnalyticsConsent	Records cookie consent preferences	1 year

Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Website so that we can improve performance and usability.

These cookies are only placed with your consent.

DigiTickets

Examples include:

• dtAnonymousID

Used to distinguish individual visitors and record their activity on the Website (pages viewed, events, approximate location, device and referral source) so we can analyse and report on how the Website is used. This data is collected against a randomly generated identifier stored in the cookie.

Google Analytics

Examples include:

• _ga
• _ga<container-id>
• _gid
• _gat_<tracker-name>

Used to distinguish individual visitors and record their activity on the Website (pages viewed, events, approximate location, device and referral source) so we can analyse and report on how the Website is used. This data is collected against a randomly generated identifier stored in the cookie, not your name or contact details.

Google Privacy Information:

https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245

Microsoft Clarity

Examples include:

• _clck
• _clsk
• CLID
• ANONCHK
• MR
• MUID
• SM

Used to analyse user interactions and improve Website usability.

Microsoft Clarity Information:

• https://clarity.microsoft.com/blog/cookies-in-clarity/
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/clarity/

Performance Monitoring Cookies

Performance monitoring tools help us identify technical issues and improve Website reliability.

Examples may include cookies used by services such as New Relic.

Managing Cookies

When you first visit our Website, you will be presented with a cookie banner allowing you to:

• Accept all cookies
• Reject non-essential cookies
• Choose your cookie preferences

You may change your preferences at any time through our cookie settings tool.

You can also manage cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect Website functionality.

Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK GDPR, you may have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your information
• Restrict processing
• Object to processing
• Request portability of your data
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

For more information about your rights, visit:

https://ico.org.uk/

Automated Decision-Making

We do not generally make decisions producing legal or similarly significant effects using solely automated processing.

Where automated tools are used for fraud prevention, security monitoring, or service administration, appropriate safeguards will be applied in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

Childrens Data

Our Website is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children unless necessary to provide services requested by a parent, guardian, school, attraction, venue, or authorised organisation.

Where we process children's personal information, we take additional care to ensure appropriate protections are in place.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact:

Digital Ticketing Systems (t/a DigiTickets)

Sentio House, Pynes Hill, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5AZ

www.digitickets.co.uk/compliance-request

If you have concerns about how we use your personal information, you may submit a privacy complaint to us using the contact details above.

We will acknowledge your complaint and investigate it in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. We aim to respond without undue delay and within the timescales required by law.

If you remain dissatisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Other Websites

This Privacy Policy applies only to this Website. Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

Last Updated: 25 August 2026