Editing Tramlink (section)

===Buyout by Transport for London===
In March 2008, TfL announced that it had reached agreement to buy TC for £98{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = TfL to take over Tramlink |magazine = Today's Railways UK |issue = 77 |date = May 2008 |page = 24 |language = en-GB}}</ref> The purchase was finalised on 28 June 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/annual-report-and-statement-of-accounts-2008-09.pdf |title = AnnualAccounts for year ended 31 March 2008 |publisher = Transport for London |page = 158 |language = en-GB}}</ref> The background to this purchase relates to the requirement that TfL (who took over from London Regional Transport in 2000) compensates TC for the consequences of any changes to the fares and ticketing policy introduced since 1996. In 2007, that payment was £4{{nbsp}}million, with an annual increase in rate.<ref name=tfln7741>{{Cite press release |url= https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/march/tfl-announces-plans-to-take-over-tramlink-services |title=TfL announces plans to take over Tramlink services |access-date=18 March 2008 |date=17 March 2008 |publisher=Transport for London |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080412011803/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7741.aspx |archive-date=12 April 2008 |url-status=live |language = en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = Croydon buy out |magazine = Railway Gazette International |date = April 2008 |page = 212 |language = en-GB}}</ref> Despite this change, FirstGroup continues to operate the service.

During October 2008, TfL introduced a new livery, using the blue, white and green of the routes on TfL maps, to distinguish the trams from buses operating in the area. The colour of the cars was changed to green, and the brand name was changed from Croydon Tramlink to simply Tramlink.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/latestnews/s-green-Tramlink/article-385546-detail/article.html |title=It's green for go at Tramlink |last=Kottegoda |first=Maheesha |date=9 October 2008 |work=Croydon Advertiser |access-date=10 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009215248/http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/latestnews/s-green-Tramlink/article-385546-detail/article.html |archive-date=9 October 2008 |language = en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/gallery/brilliant-pictures-croydons-forgotten-red-23415470 |title = Brilliant pictures of Croydon's forgotten red trams that vanished 14 years ago |first = Bea |last = Isaacson |date = 17 March 2022 |website = mylondon.news |language = en-GB}}</ref> The rebranding work was completed in early 2009.