Bus bosses are hoping to introduce a system that will allow passengers to use their mobile phone to both plan their trip and pay for tickets.

It is one of the innovations public transport chiefs want to roll out that also include contactless card payments on all buses.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said: ’Ultimately, you would be able to plan a journey on your mobile and pay for it on your mobile.’

Mr Harmer said the new journey planner traveline.info would help to increase bus use, which was already on the rise.

’This is imminently to be followed by our ZipTrip mobile phone app, which is currently available in a development format,’ he said.

’This will give passengers access to real-time journey information, as well as mobile journey planning.

’We plan to follow this with the installation of contactless card payment machines on all buses.’

He was responding to questions in the House of Keys on Tuesday from Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey), who also wanted to know if there were plans to review the current pricing structure.

The Minister said fares were reviewed on an annual basis but, except for school travel, had not increased since 2013.

’Since the bus network was subject to a total review and a significant revision in 2012, the growth in income from fares has been such that the department has been able to meet or exceed its income targets by growing the market rather than by increasing charges on its customers,’ he added.

’The department is developing regulations and will be taking the opportunity to review certain categories of concessionary fare travel.’

’During the review of fares this year consideration will be given to the pricing structure.

’However, significant passenger growth since the bus review network in 2012 has resulted in a record year in 2017-18.’

Mr Hooper said there was a danger that the pay structure itself was too complex and asked if it would be simplified.

’We have Go Explore, Go Places, annual cards, 12 journey cards, three different school cards,’ he said.

Mr Harmer said they would be kept under review, but added: ’I think these are all very standard, simple, cards.

’The users know them and we are seeing an increase in passengers.

’A bus network is built on stable foundations where there is not huge change, but you do look to improve things as you go forward.’