11 Hours in the Same Work Shoes – Train Driver Tests JALAS® SpOc

10,000–20,000 Steps in a Single Shift

24 years as a train driver. Up to 20,000 steps during a single shift. Long routes between Dalarna and Stockholm.

Many people imagine train driving as a mostly seated job inside the driver’s cabin. In reality, it looks quite different.

– There can be long distances between where you park the train and the staff areas. During a long shift, you end up taking far more steps than people think, says Jenny.

Today, she operates passenger trains between Dalarna and Stockholm, where shifts can sometimes last up to 11 hours. In addition to working as a train driver, she is also an instructor, training new colleagues on different locomotives and train types – a role that requires experience, focus, and a strong safety mindset.

When the workday can involve up to 20,000 steps and hours of concentration, you need shoes that provide proper support for your feet while reducing strain on the knees, hips, and back.

Driving trains is a bit like mindfulness

Even after nearly a quarter of a century in the profession, there is still a lot Jenny enjoys about her work.

– Driving trains is a bit like mindfulness. You are very present in the moment and focused on what you are doing. I also enjoy seeing so much, and no two days are really the same.

The variation is something she often comes back to. The scenery, weather, and conditions constantly change along the routes she drives – while the job still demands concentration for long periods of time.

644 metres and 3,000 tonnes

Today, Jenny drives passenger trains between Dalarna and Stockholm. Earlier in her career, however, she worked with freight trains – a completely different type of operation.

The longest train she has driven was 644 metres long, and the heaviest weighed around 3,000 tonnes.

Footwear requirements also vary depending on the type of transport work involved. Freight train drivers need proper safety shoes with toe protection and nail penetration protection, as the work often involves walking along the tracks and inspecting trains.

– I had a colleague who wasn’t wearing proper safety footwear while working near the trains. He stepped on a rusty nail that went straight through both the shoe and his foot, Jenny explains.

For drivers working in passenger transport, the needs are different. Here, the focus is on certified work shoes that provide stability, ergonomic support, and reliable grip during long shifts. The JALAS SpOc collection was developed with these needs in mind.

And it is not just train drivers. Taxi drivers, bus drivers, pilots, and other professionals working long hours in uniform all need discreet, all-black work shoes that perform equally well behind the wheel and while walking through terminals, stations, and depots.

Four new models for long working days

The JALAS SpOc collection has been expanded with four new models developed for professional drivers and service professionals whose everyday work involves long shifts and many steps.

The shoes are made from soft, flexible, water-repellent leather and combine a professional look with ergonomic comfort for people who spend a lot of time walking and standing during the workday.

JALAS SpOc is also certified according to EN ISO 20347 – a standard for work shoes developed for environments where comfort, grip, and stability are essential during long working days.

Why JALAS SpOc suits professional drivers

• Slip-resistant grip on varying surfaces
• Ergonomic cushioning that reduces strain on feet and knees
• Lightweight design for increased comfort during long shifts
• BOA® Fit System on selected models for quick and even adjustment
• Water-repellent leather that handles spills and changing weather
• Professional all-black design for uniformed staff

11 hours in the same work shoes

Jenny had the opportunity to test the JALAS SpOc 5552, one of the new work shoe models in the SpOc collection. Her first test was an 11-hour shift.

– I was very happy with the shoes. No blisters, nothing pressing or pinching. My feet stayed dry and cool all day.

She describes the experience as natural and uncomplicated.

– They felt light and comfortable from the start. I never had to think about them or adjust them during the day.

One feature she especially appreciated was the BOA® Fit System, which makes it easy to quickly adjust the fit and keep the shoe securely in place throughout the workday.

When comfort becomes a safety issue

After 24 years as a train driver, Jenny knows how much the right work shoes affect the workday.

When shifts last up to 11 hours and a single day can involve 20,000 steps, comfort becomes about much more than simply feeling comfortable. Tired feet affect the whole body – and in professions where concentration needs to stay high all day, even small physical strains become noticeable.

For professional drivers, the right work shoes are therefore just as much about focus and endurance as they are about ergonomics and grip.

For Jenny, JALAS SpOc was simply a pair of shoes that worked from the very beginning.

– I didn't think about the shoes during the whole day. That's probably the best rating a pair of work shoes can get.