Classes Accelerate Front Line Workforce Regrowth Following Pandemic-Induced Hiring Freeze     

New Classes Join Hundreds of Train Conductors, Train Operators and Bus Operators Who Completed Training in 2021 and 2022    

View Photos from the Graduation 

New York City Transit today announced the graduation of 29 new train operators following their successful completion of training at the New York City Transit Learning Center in Brooklyn.   

These operators will help New York City Transit (NYCT) tackle crew shortage challenges and bolster the frequency of subway service. This marked the formal end of intensive training that began in February 2022. The graduation took place as New York City Transit subway ridership hovers near 60% of pre-pandemic levels.  

"We will continue to aggressively hire train and bus operators to ensure we are meeting our service commitments,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “Coupled with our overall efforts to improve employee availability, this new class of train operators will ensure that public transit is the best option for riders returning to work and school this fall.”   

Since February 2021, hundreds of train operators and conductors have joined NYC Transit, which has resulted in improved customer metrics. Customer journey time performance was at 83.6% in July 2022. 

The new employees join the hundreds of bus operators, train operators and conductors who recently completed their training — part of a deliberate effort by the MTA to rapidly grow the number of bus operators, subway train operators and conductors. A hiring freeze, necessitated by a fiscal crisis that developed during the pandemic, depleted the ranks of train operators and conductors with many veteran workers retiring or leaving their frontline posts. Along with improved recruiting efforts and speeding up training for new employees, the MTA addressed the staff shortage by bringing back recently retired train operators, scheduling additional overtime and buying back vacation time.