Indiana schools have been experimenting with a state-wide network with Linux clients since at least 2005. If you're serious about this, check out the website and consider contacting people who were involved for advice.

Except that the only choice for rail (Amtrak) takes twice as long as driving at the best of times. For short trips, you might as well drive. For medium distances (10 hours driving), your travel time balloons to over a full day in most cases. For long distances (cross country), you pretty much have to fly.

There's just not a place for rail to fit in.