How to use the online alarm clock
You are finishing your check of the departures board at 2:15 pm, ready to leave once the platform and running information are clear. Setting an alarm now gives you a definite point to stop watching for updates and move towards your intercity train. There are 45 minutes until 3:00 pm, enough time to deal with a platform change without turning the wait into constant clock-checking.
Your departure check depends on the alarm remaining active in the browser where it was set. Closing that browser, shutting its tab or allowing the phone or laptop to sleep can prevent the sound, so the alarm may not warn you when it is time to head for the train. Keep the alarm page open and the screen awake, with the volume high enough to hear above station announcements, until 2:15 pm arrives.
Once the departures information is settled, the remaining midday wait is a sensible chance for a light snack and some water before walking to the platform. Choose something quick and tidy that will not hold you up if the train is called or reassigned. A larger meal or a hot drink that takes time to finish can wait until the journey is under way, particularly when boarding is expected before 3:00 pm.
Common questions
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
Does the alarm still work if I close the tab?
No. Everything runs inside this page, so closing the tab — or quitting the browser altogether — ends the countdown there and then. Leaving it open in the background is all it asks, and switching to another tab makes no difference.
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 2:15 pm?
The tab sleeps along with it and the alarm will not sound on time, if at all. If you are relying on it, change the power settings so the machine stays awake, or keep a phone alarm running as well.
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