An island software expert who designed a revolutionary new bus timetable app has criticised a lack of government support.

James Morgan won a competition in 2016 to design the app which shows the position of island buses in real time and makes it easier for travellers to plan their journeys. It also shows where bus stops are, current locations for trains and trams, and bus routes across the island.

Mr Morgan blamed a refusal of funding from the government and a lack of support.

’For the past two years, I have been trying to chase up further funding,’ he said.

’Last year I invoiced (transport chief) Ian Longworth for a maintenance fee for the app and website and he paid, but this year he has refused,’ he said.

Mr Morgan said there was a verbal agreement to fund further development of the Bus-Man apps but this had not come to pass, though he had released the concept on that understanding. Since then, the app has gained 1,500 users, with 2,500 web sessions, which, he said, increases to 1,850 and nearly 4,000 respectively, as TT approaches.

Funding for further development of the apps could be achieved through future ticket sales via the Bus-Man apps and advertising tourist attractions through the apps, Mr Morgan said.

He was also asked to add a contacts page for the apps, which he did. ’But no one from GTS or Bus Vannin has ever been interested in receiving the emails from the Bus Vannin users,’ he said.

’At the end of TT last year Mr Longworth failed to supply new timetable data to be displayed on the Bus-Man apps.

’I have also offered to add further timetable information for Isle of Man steam railways, electric trams and horse drawn trams as these vehicles are displayed on the map when they are in use, but Mr Longworth said the bus software they use to do the timetables cannot be used to supply the timetable data for the trams and trains.’

He said since the apps were introduced both passenger numbers and bus revenue had increased.

A spokesman for Bus Vannin said: ’Mr Morgan undertook some work in creating the Bus-Man app and an invoice for maintaining it for 12 months was settled in 2017.

’Following this, Mr Morgan was advised that government was looking at alternative solutions and that he should stop maintaining the app. An invoice produced for work undertaken over the past 12 months has not been paid as the work was not commissioned.’

He added: ’Isle of Man Transport will formally launch a Zip Trip app for bus passengers within a month.

’A version is currently available to download, including live times from bus stops, timetables and a journey planner. This will be further enhanced by a map showing the current position of buses around the island.’

But Mr Morgan said he felt the government had ’failed to nurture talent in the island in favour of using an off-the-shelf app which is not tailored to the Isle of Man. Other than the Twitter feed, it is not a real-time app and just displays precompiled timetable journeys,’ he said.