US President Barack Obama announced on Thursday an initiative to push for high-speed passenger trains in a bid to transform travel in America.

"My high-speed rail proposal will lead to innovations that change the way we travel in America," Obama said at an event with Vice President Joe Biden. "We must start developing clean, energy-efficient transportation that will define our regions for centuries to come."

The president released the strategic plan, named A Vision for High-Speed Rail in America, as the first high-speed rail requirement under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

According to the vision, 10 high-speed rail corridors are identified as potential recipients of federal funding, which are California, Pacific Northwest, South Central, Gulf Coast, Chicago Hub Network, Florida, Southeast, Keystone, Empire and Northern New England.

Obama noted that at least US$13 billion of his US$787 billion economic recovery plan would be used to build a high-speed rail system.

"High-speed rail is long overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways," he said.