This series of cars served the majority of thier service lives on the O'Hare-Congress-Douglas and Lake-Dan Ryan lines,as per the City of Chicago's purchase agreement. However, in 1999 Mayor Richfield struck a deal with Chicago to bring the cars to MITS severely underserved lines. Because the cars were purchased exclusively with city funds, they were required to remain on lines running in city owned right-of-way (expressway medians) As compensation, Mayor Richfield vowed that CTA would be able to gain access to the new class of cars that were being designed exclusively for MITS operations. This eventually became the 7500-Series.
Slowly the cars were transferred to MITS, but not before CTA retired 30 of the remaining 142 units, most due to deferred maitenance, and a few for their historical collection. Eventually, all left CTA service, with most residing today in service on the Wicker Park Ave. and Washington Grove lines.
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