InternetRail

They tried doing Internet over power lines, it failed long distance, but there is a network transformer that supposedly allows you to set up a home network using your internal power supply (using appliances like dishwashers at the same time will blow a fuse, though)

I thought...why not some other source of continous metal? Most countries have networks of rail. It's been proven that electric signals can go through the rail, most systems use them to activate crossing gates and trip signals (so that no train follows too close behind another one), and some systems use the rails for "return" of curent from overhead or third rail. Some systems may also send signals through the rails for "cab signalling" where the engineer/driver sees the signals inside the cab. The rails are much thicker than wires, right? There must be enough spare "bandwidth" to support thousands of terrabytes of information passing through each second. Some railroads sell rights to build fiber optic lines underneath the rail bed. But if they can tap into the rails, they'd have something. You may say "but what about the different types of electrical signals"? On Long Island, they have some sections of rails with filters, to make sure returned current (from third rail) and the "signals" for things like gate crossings don't go the wrong way. Do something like that! After all, the rail network goes everywhere. A perfect backbone for the 'net.