Forty minutes between trains
I Nearly Missed My KTX Connection After Falling Asleep
After travelling since early morning, I closed my eyes during a long connection and woke to a departure only minutes away.
I left home close to the first train of the morning. Reaching an event outside the city required two KTX trains, with a forty minute connection between them. On paper, that gap looked generous.
I felt fine until I stepped off the first train. As soon as I reached the concourse, the early start caught up with me. Seeing thirty one minutes on the departure board made me relax.
I found a seat at the edge of the waiting area, hooked a foot around my suitcase handle, and kept my bag on my lap. Fifteen minutes with my eyes closed seemed safe if I set an alarm.
I chose a time twelve minutes before departure. That should have left time to reach the platform and visit the restroom. My earbuds were in my pocket, but the break felt too short to bother with them.
The station was loud with suitcase wheels, arrival announcements, and children. I assumed my phone alarm would blend in and still wake me.
Before long, I sank into the chair. I stirred whenever my head tilted, but I was not awake enough to check the clock or board.
A noisy place does not automatically
make a speaker alarm reliable or considerate.
Six minutes to departure
A better way to wake in a crowded station
A faint melody eventually reached me. I assumed it belonged to someone else until the passenger beside me glanced over. My phone was vibrating on my lap.
I silenced it and looked at the board. Six minutes remained. I abandoned the restroom plan and ran with my suitcase, my thoughts tangling as I checked the platform number.
I made it aboard before the doors closed. Once seated, I stared out the window until my breathing settled. The relief of catching the train was mixed with the memory of my alarm ringing through the concourse.
A loud setting could bother people nearby and still disappear beneath a station announcement. When missing the time has real consequences, relying on a speaker alone can feel strangely uncertain.
Now I take out my earbuds before resting during a connection. I test whether the alarm reaches my ears, leave enough time to walk to the platform, and check the departure board once more.
Long waits still make me sleepy. Preparing a private signal is easier than choosing between an anxious nap and a missed train.
This story is a reconstruction based on an everyday situation that could realistically happen.
Nenne
Take a short rest.
Catch the next train.
When you rest between journeys, prepare a headphone alarm and leave time to check the actual departure board.
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