Croydon trams could soon be 'cashless.'

Transport for London (TfL) has begun an eight-week public consultation plan that would see existing cash ticket machines removed from the Tram network.

TfL has put the idea to scrap the machines - which "have now reached the end of their useful life" down to low usage, saying it is no longer cost effective for TfL to maintain them or have them replaced.

TfL have asked any customers who still buy paper tickets to switch to Oyster or contactless.

Director of London Trams Rory O’Neill said: “Most tram customers use pay as you go with Oyster or contactless to travel, which is cheaper than paper tickets and also allows customers to use the mayor’s new ‘hopper’ fare to make two bus or tram journeys within an hour for the price of one.

"As very few ticket sales are made using ticket machines, we are asking local people and stakeholders if they think cash ticket machines should be removed altogether.”

Customers will be able to top up their Oyster cards at Oyster Ticket Stops along the route, at ticket machines at National Rail stations or via the TfL website and forthcoming TfL Ticketing app.

Subject to the results of the consultation, a final decision on whether to remove the machines will be made early next year.

The consultation runs until Sunday 29 October. To find out more, see details of our public drop-in sessions and to have your say visit www.tfl.gov.uk/cashless-trams