It's possible to slash the cost of travelling by train with a host of techniques. And in some cases, you need to throw logic out of the window to reveal an array of bizarre rules which can save you a fortune.

Split your tickets, not the journey

The biggest saving possible comes from a hidden loophole called split ticketing. The easiest way to explain it is with an example. On a London to Penzance journey, the train stops at Plymouth.

The standard return price of the journey is £257, yet by buying a ticket from London to Plymouth and another from Plymouth to Penzance (and vice-versa), it can cost just £48 – a £209 saving. Yet you can still travel on the SAME TRAIN at the SAME TIME.

This doesn't always work, but the vast savings often mean it's worth a few minutes to check. Simply find out where your train stops and check the prices of the separate tickets. It's all perfectly legal as long as the train stops at the station where you split your ticket.

External Link: For a step-by-step explanation to split ticketing read Martin's full Cheap Train Tickets guide.

Singles often beat returns

Always check the price of buying your outbound and return journeys separately and book in advance. For example, a peak-time day return from London Euston to Birmingham costs £123 if you buy it at the station on the day. But super-cheap advance tickets mean you can sometimes get the same journey for £16.

Spend £72+ a year? Get a railcard

Annual railcards for those aged 16-25 and over 60 cost £24 and cut a third off most adult off-peak tickets, so they’re worth it if you spend over £72 a year on eligible journeys. Plus, there’s a cheaper £18 railcard for those with disabilities.

There’s also the Family & Friends Railcard which gives one to four adults travelling with between one and four kids, huge discounted fares. This is currently available for £18 – 25% cheaper than usual – via a special online promotional code and link (read on for more details).

It’s also worth checking whether there are any railcards specific to your region.

Booking early can be late

Crucially, to get the cheapest deals you need to book in advance. Yet buying in advance just means booking before the train leaves, even if it's only an hour before – as long as the cheap tickets are still available.

Also, try thetrainline's 'Best Fare Finder', which tells you which dates in a particular month you'll get the cheapest tickets for a specific journey. There's a fee to pay if you book through it, though this can be avoided by booking direct on the train company's site instead, once you know what to look for.

Look for hidden promotions

Lots of train companies have hidden promotions, either for printing your own ticket, registering on their website or more. Often the key is timing it right. These can include £2 London to Manchester returns or £5 off any ticket.

External Links: Find the Family & Friends Railcard code and more hidden promotions in Martin’s Cheap UK Travel guide. And read Martin’s Cheap Train Tickets guide for all you need to know on bagging a top train deal.