The body wants to talks to interested firms ahead of starting formal procurement for a principal contractor for the project.

If all goes to plan, construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2017 and be complete by mid 2019.

Known as the Dingwall Road Loop, the proposed new section will take the form of an anticlockwise loop of new tramway to the east of the network in the town centre along Dingwall Road and Lansdowne Road.

The project also requires the construction of a new tram stop on Lansdowne Road and the refurbishment of the existing tram stop on Wellesley Road.

This new tramway is required to support the projected increase in passenger numbers generated by the opening of the new Westfield shopping centre in Croydon due for opening in 2020.

Croydon has been identified as an opportunity area within London and both population and employment growth are expected to be significant over the period up to 2030.

Interested parties can submit requests to be involved in the market engagement exercise by emailing

<a href=”mailto:[email protected]”>TfL</a> and quoting ‘Dingwall Road’ by 17 September.

Gareth Powell, TfL’s director of strategy and service development, said: “The success of the tram network since it began 15 years ago is outstanding, with passenger numbers expected to double by 2030.

“The Dingwall Road loop is the next step of a series of improvements that will deliver extra passenger capacity.”

Subject to the consultation, funding and the proposal being endorsed by the Mayor of London, TfL intends to apply to the Department for Transport for powers to construct and operate the Dingwall Road loop through a Transport and Works Act Order in the autumn.