Officials add that increasing the frequency of AC services is another step towards easing congestion. In the wake of Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) expanding their network of AC local trains, commuters complain that persistent delays and unreliable service substitutions continue to plague Mumbai’s suburban rail system. From May 1, CR converted 14 non-AC suburban services to AC, while WR transformed 12 non-AC locals, taking their total AC services to 108 and 145, respectively. Despite the expansion, AC services are running into chronic delays, often inconveniencing passengers. “I usually take the evening fast AC local train to Kalyan, and almost inevitably it is held back by a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes,” said Varsha Dasani, a 38-year-old commuter who travels daily from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). With few viable alternatives amid Mumbai ’s stifling heat, she says she has come to accept the delay as part of her routine.…