The U.S. Department of Transportation has given an $18.7 million grant to Caltrain to implement advanced technology for monitoring and controlling train movements, according to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto.

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, which owns Caltrain, will use the technology for safety modifications, such as automatically stopping trains to prevent accidents like collisions and derailments.

"I'm glad to see federal funds put towards improving the safety of our local rail systems," Lofgren said in a statement. "This federal grant will benefit millions of residents and many businesses from San Jose to San Francisco."

Eshoo said the new technology, known as positive train control, is a "game changer" in railway safety. The federal grant will be provided under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program.

"This is a critical component to the modernization of Caltrain, the spine of our region's transportation system," she said in a statement.