Cambridge Bus Route 786: Cambridge to Luton Airport — Stops, Timetable & Fares (2026)
🚌 Cambridge Bus Route 786 — Cambridge ↔ Luton Airport
🚌 Route 786: Cambridge ↔ Luton Airport | 🏢 National Express | ⏱️ 6 departures on weekdays | 💳 £3 fare cap · £2 from Jan 2027 | 📅 Monday to Friday
The 786 is a bus service run by National Express in the Cambridge area. This page gives the stops in order, an honest summary of the timetable (first and last buses and how often they run, by day), fares and the questions riders ask most.
📋 Route 786 Essential Information
- Route: 786 — Cambridge ↔ Luton Airport
- Operator: National Express
- Days: Monday to Friday
- First / last (weekday): 02:50 – 22:40 from Cambridge
- Frequency: 6 departures on weekdays (less frequent early morning and evening)
- Journey time: around 77 minutes end to end
- Stops: 3 stops in the main direction (see list below)
- Fare: single fares capped at £3 (see Fares & Payment)
🗺️ Route 786 Stops
🚏 Stops Towards Luton Airport — in order
- Cambridge Parkside (Bay 17)
- Trumpington Park-and-Ride (in) p
- Luton Airport Airport Bus Station (Bay P)
6 weekday departures from Cambridge: first 02:50, last 22:40.
🚏 Stops Towards Cambridge — in order
- Luton Airport Airport Bus Station (Bay P)
- Trumpington Park-and-Ride (in) s
- Cambridge Parkside (Bay 17)
6 weekday departures from Luton Airport: first 01:20, last 21:10.
🎫 Fares & Payment
- Fare cap: single fares on this service are capped at £3 under the England national fare cap — the cap falls to £2 from 1 January 2027. See BusUpdate’s fare cap guide.
- Paying: most operators in this area accept contactless bank cards and mobile payment as well as cash; smaller community operators may differ — check with National Express for this route.
- Day tickets: if you make several journeys, ask the driver about National Express day tickets, which can beat paying capped singles.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the first 786 bus from Cambridge?
On weekdays the first 786 leaves Cambridge at 02:50.
What time is the last 786 bus?
On weekdays the last 786 from Cambridge is at 22:40 (the last bus from Luton Airport is at 21:10).
How often does the 786 run?
6 departures on weekdays on weekdays; the service runs monday to friday.
How much is the fare on the 786?
Single fares are capped at £3 under the England fare cap (£2 from 1 January 2027).
Timetable & stop data: bustimes.org (open data — Bus Open Data Service / Traveline / NaPTAN), extracted and verified October 2026. Independently compiled by the BusUpdate editorial team; confirm time-sensitive details with National Express before travelling. See also: buses in Cambridge on BusUpdate.