Slow as snail

[AIM GMAT]

Slow as a snail, prone to delays, and overburdened by a ridership that grew by
double digits in the last decade, the much-maligned F train is in dire need of aspruce-up.

A. and overburdened by a ridership that grew by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F train is in dire need of a

B. and overburdened with a ridership that is growing by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F train is in dire need of a

C. despite overburdened by a ridership that grew by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F train is in dire need for a

D. and overburdened by a ridership which grew by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F trains are in dire need of a

E. and overburdened by a ridership that has grown by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F train was in dire need of a

[M09]

Slow as a snail, prone to delays, and overburdened by a ridership that grew by
double digits in the last decade, the much-maligned F train is in dire need of aspruce-up.

A. and overburdened by a ridership that grew by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F train is in dire need of a

B. and overburdened with a ridership that is growing by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F train is in dire need of a

C. despite overburdened by a ridership that grew by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F train is in dire need for a

D. and overburdened by a ridership which grew by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F trains are in dire need of a

E. and overburdened by a ridership that has grown by double digits in the last
decade, the much-maligned F train was in dire need of a

Not to sure about this one.. I don't whether overburdened with OR overburdened by" which one is correct
Reasons for elimination:
D - because the sentence is about train not trains
C - despite -- means sort of contradictory

Now between A,B & E I choose A correct tense usage & succint. Please reveal the OA.

[AIM GMAT]

Thanks M09 for a quick reply , indeed OA is A