It is no secret that the trains running on the Mumbai suburban network, colloquially called local trains, are the lifeline of the city. And both–Central and Western Railway–in an attempt to make commuters’ lives easier, decided to introduce air-conditioned local trains.

Considering the current state of these trains and their services, the idea of their introduction now seems rather improbable. Although some passengers find the experience satisfactory, numerous regular users have repeatedly voiced their deep-seated frustrations. 

The complaints, spanning from frequent delays to poor maintenance and water leakage during the monsoon, have sparked a broader discussion about the state of AC train services and the railways` ability to fulfill the expectations of the millions who depend on them daily.