Washington ( CNN ) -- President Obama mentioned an $ 8 billion investment in high-speed train systems across the country in his State of the Union speech on Wednesday . Details released Thursday said the investment would be grants from the government 's $ 862 billion economic stimulus package to begin the planning and initial work on creating the first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service . Overall , projects and planning involving the rail corridors will take place in 31 states , according to a White House statement . Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were scheduled to travel to Tampa , Florida , Thursday to formally announce the program . Other Cabinet members and administration officials also were visiting sites of the program in other states on Thursday and Friday . According to the statement , the corridor between Tampa and Orlando , Florida , would have trains capable of traveling up to 168 mph with 16 round trips a day . The time to travel by train between the cities would be about an hour , compared with about 90 minutes by car , it said . `` This project will create jobs and generate economic activity as 84 miles of track are constructed , stations are built or enhanced , and equipment is purchased , '' with work expected to be completed in 2014 , the statement said . `` The projects announced today are part of President Obama 's strategic long-term plan to transform travel in America by building and sustaining a comprehensive passenger rail program , '' the statement said . `` In addition to the $ 8 billion awarded today , the plan also included $ 1 billion a year for five years in the federal budget as a down payment to jump-start the program . '' The statement described the program as `` a long-term venture in which states will need to plan projects , purchase and lay track , build and assemble equipment , and construct or upgrade train stations , tunnels and bridges . '' `` Spain spent two decades and $ 35 billion developing its high-speed rail system , '' it said . `` South Korea took 12 years and more than $ 10 billion to build a line stretching from Seoul to Busan , comparable to the distance between Boston and New York . '' Train corridors in the program include : . • San Diego - Los Angeles - San Luis Obispo in California . • Oakland - Sacramento in California . • Portland - Eugene in Oregon . • Seattle - Portland in Washington and Oregon . • Chicago - St. Louis in Illinois and Missouri . • St. Louis and Kansas City in Missouri . • Minneapolis/St . Paul - Madison in Minnesota and Wisconsin . • Madison - Milwaukee in Wisconsin . • Milwaukee - Chicago in Wisconsin and Illinois . • Cleveland - Columbus - Cincinnati in Ohio . • Detroit/Pontiac - Chicago in Michigan , Indiana and Illinois . • Tampa - Orlando in Florida . • Raleigh - Charlotte in North Carolina . • Washington - Richmond in District of Columbia and Virginia . • Raleigh - Richmond in North Carolina and Virginia . • New York - Albany-Buffalo in New York . • New York - Montreal in New York and Quebec , Canada . • Boston - New York - Washington in Massachusetts , Rhode Island , Maryland , New York , and District of Columbia . • Brunswick - Portland in Maine . • Philadelphia - Harrisburg - Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania . • Springfield - East Northfield in Massachusetts . • New Haven - Springfield in Connecticut and Massachusetts .
President Obama to announce $ 8 billion in stimulus funds for high-speed train plan . Proposed rail system would span across 31 states . Work is expected to be finished by 2014 , according to White House .