The new Designated Community Rail Development Fund will help deliver improvements to make a real difference at local stations, such as more seats at stations, cycle parking and better information for passengers. It can also help fund awareness campaigns to encourage more people to use these lines.
Community Rail Partnerships promote and develop the railway services for local people and will apply to Association of Community Rail Partnerships for the funding.
Partnerships across the country - including three in Yorkshire and the Humber - are eligible for the funding.
The Yorkshire partnerships are: the Barton Line which operates between Barton-on-Humber and Cleethorpes; the Esk Valley Line from Whitby to Middlesborough and the Penistone Line from Barnsley to Huddersfield.
All partnerships working on these lines can apply to the fund for a grant of up to £5,000 per route.
