New Jersey Transit is preparing to hire a new group of locomotive engineers in an effort to decrease delays and cancellations.

The agency has been recruiting candidates across New Jersey since January and say that they were thrilled with the results. More than 5,000 applications are currently under review.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 9, but NJ Transit officials say that there are plenty of positions to choose from.

“We have plenty of opportunities throughout New Jersey Transit, throughout our rail operations, in terms of mechanics, service people, and also in our bus division,” says NJ Transit spokesman Jim Smith. “We're recruiting there for bus operators, mechanics in bus. So there are plenty of opportunities, plenty of new careers here at New Jersey Transit."

The human resource team says it will reach out to qualified candidates shortly.