TTC riders who normally endure long lines to buy their monthly Metropass at Union Station had a happy surprise this month when the TTC set up an additional payment area for credit and debit card purchases.

The TTC is testing wireless card readers such as those used in restaurants as the next step in taking some of the cash out of the system, said spokesman Brad Ross.

He cited February’s shooting of a TTC collector at Dupont station.

“Ultimately it will be an improved customer benefit, being able to purchase passes by debit and credit card. It’s also something we’re looking at more long-term to roll out across the network to reduce the likelihood of cash transactions and cash in collector booths,” said Ross.

The added service at Union, which began Thursday, will continue through Tuesday during the rush hours.

The TTC will measure the length of lineups, transaction times and the reliability of the wireless signal. Once those indicators are analyzed, there will be a formal announcement of how the program will move ahead.

“We absolutely will be doing it elsewhere. We just have to determine when and where and how,” he said.

Thirty-one TTC stations have vending machines that dispense Metropasses.

The Union Station test will continue next month.