Nine new NJ Transit engineers graduated Thursday as the public transportation system is operating at full capacity for the first time in a decade.

Their graduation ceremony took place at the Metro Park train station following 78 weeks of training.

Gov. Phil Murphy spoke at the ceremony and said their addition will be instrumental in NJ Transit's pandemic recovery.

"Rail ridership may only currently be at about 25% of what it was pre-pandemic, but we know that eventually and soon many will be finding their way back onto the trains. When they do, they're going to find a whole new team ready to make sure they get to where they need to go safely and on time," Murphy said.

Overall, 103 engineers have graduated in the last three years.

Three additional classes are set to begin by the end of this year.