The VIA Rail system in Canada has formally launched Internet access on the Windsor-Quebec City route: The service has been in testing by VIA Rail for quite a while; I wrote about it in July 2004 in a New York Times article that discussed Internet access on commuter transportation, including ferries, buses, and trains. The service will be in all first-class coaches by the end of April and all classes by the end of 2005. As reported a few months ago, all 22 stations will also have Wi-Fi service.
It seems that the reason for the extended trial may have to do with the Internet downlink. While I suspected that Pointshot and VIA Rail were waiting for 3G cell data service to catch up with the train's route, this article states that ground cellualr from Bell Canada and Telus was unacceptable. The service will use satellite access that will reach 3 Mbps in urban and 1 Mbps in rural settings for downstream access. (There's no explanation why satellite reception speed would vary among these areas.)
Service will be relatively expensive, but with high costs (satellite service, for instance) and high utility (equivalent to in-flight utility), it will be worthwhile to a large class of passenger. Rates are C$8.95 for 24 hours of access; the full run of Quebec City to Windsor is roughly 14 hours. Unlimited monthly service is just C$46 per month, a good deal for a couple of monthly round-trips. As-you-go rates are insanely high: C$3.99 for 15 minutes and C$0.30 per minute thereafter!
This article says it's the first North American broadband train service, which is incorrect. Altamount Commuter Express (ACE) has been running a slow broadband service for years using the same technology provider that powers VIA Rail.
The Wi-Fi service costs $8.95 for 24 hours of access, or $46 for a monthly account. Short-term hookups are available for $3.99 for 15 minutes, plus 30 cents a minute.