US President Barack Obama has called for a new rail and digital revolution in his country.

"Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 per cent of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you go places in half the time it takes to travel by car," Obama said in his State of the Union Address.

"For some trips, it will be faster than flying - without the pat-down. As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway," he said in his address to the joint session of the US Congress.

"Within the next five years, we will make it possible for business to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 per cent of all Americans.

This isn't just about a faster internet and fewer dropped calls. It's about connecting every part of America to the digital age," he said.

"It's about a rural community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small business owners will be able to sell their products all over the world.

It's about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face- to-face video chats with her doctor," Obama said.

"All these investments - in innovation, education, and infrastructure - will make America a better place to do business and create jobs.

But to help our companies compete, we also have to knock down barriers that stand in the way of their success," Obama said.