Lancaster bus driver celebrates podium finish in UK final
Congratulations to a Lancaster bus driver who has won a podium spot at a national awards ceremony.
A Stagecoach bus driver from Lancaster has celebrated a remarkable third place finish in the prestigious Bus Driver of the Year National Final, cementing his place among the very best professional bus drivers in the UK.
Pawel Samowedziuk, who is based at Stagecoach’s depot on the White Lund Industrial Estate, secured third place in the 58th annual competition, as well as achieving the highest theory test score and finishing as the highest-placed Stagecoach driver.
The overall title was won by David Nairn from First Bus in West Yorkshire.
Regarded as one of the toughest tests of professional bus driving, the competition saw finalists take on a demanding two-mile driving challenge along Blackpool’s famous North Promenade.
Drivers were assessed on their ability to complete tight manoeuvres, judge speed and distance accurately and demonstrate excellent roadcraft under pressure.
The competition also included a written examination covering the Highway Code and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, with drivers accumulating penalty points across the various elements to determine the final standings.
For Pawel, the result was particularly special after narrowly missing his personal target when he first entered the national final in 2025.
He said: “I entered the Bus Driver of the Year National Finals for the first time in 2025 with the goal of beating my mentor’s position he achieved the year before. I finished 66th out of 101 drivers, but crucially three places short of my goal.
“This year I thought that finishing as the best Stagecoach driver would be nice. But when I saw the errors I made during my run, which my wife kindly recorded from inside the bus, I knew I didn’t stand a chance of getting a good result.
“I just sat there at the presentation ceremony relaxed and I wasn’t at all nervous about being called onto the stage.
“Then Joe Mackie OBE announced the winner of third place, the best theory test result and the highest-placed Stagecoach driver.
“When he started to say ‘Paul…’ and then struggled with my surname, it was only when he said the driver’s operating company was Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire that I realised it was me.”
Pawel joined Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire in November 2018 and is based at the Morecambe depot, operating services across Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham and Carnforth, as well as longer routes to Preston and Blackpool.
He moved to the UK from Poland in 2010 and now lives in Lancaster. He was born and raised in the Beskid Śląski region of southern Poland, close to the meeting point of the Polish, Czech and Slovak borders.
His passion for bus driving stretches back to childhood.
He added: “It was actually one of my childhood dreams to be one of the brave people who were driving buses on windy mountain roads through the forests, no matter what the weather was. It was especially captivating in snowy winter. So I am in fact ‘living the dream’.”
Pawel hopes his success will encourage more professional drivers to put themselves forward for competitions such as Bus Driver of the Year.
He said: “I hope my result will inspire other drivers who might be hesitant about taking part in such competitions to just give it a go.
“The safety, comfort and self-satisfaction will definitely improve and who knows, maybe they will one day become the Bus Driver of the Year.”
Colin Nicholson, operations manager at Morecambe Depot, said Pawel’s achievement was a source of great pride for colleagues.
He said: “We’re all incredibly proud of Pawel. Finishing third overall against drivers from across the UK’s major bus operators is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to his professionalism, skill and commitment to delivering safe and comfortable journeys for our passengers.
“Pawel is a fantastic ambassador for our depot and for the wider bus driving profession, and we couldn’t be happier for him.”
The Bus Driver of the Year competition has been running for 58 years and is widely regarded as a leading showcase for the skill, professionalism and roadcraft of the UK’s bus drivers.