Finland announces migration of its rail network to international gauge

> Was there a comparable large scale rail infrastructure change in some other country?

Baltic states attempted this (project Rail Baltica). Lots of EU money were spent with no visible result. I guess, several people in Baltic states became super rich, but in terms of rail infrastructure nothing was done.

This is an ongoing project, not a past project though ?

I thought this is a project for a new railway, not reguaging existing track ?

No visible result is the goal. The change is minimal but makes the system compatible with other EU carriages. Did the Baltics attempt this or succeed?

Progress has been made and is ongoing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_Baltica#Project_progress

They're clearly referring to economic results.

Correct it is a new rail line not an alteration of existing tracks, but it goes into some existing and new (mostly cargo) stations so some stations will have both gauges of track.

It is ongoing project but there doesn't seem to me enough financing, the money that EU allocates only cover about half of the required budget so they are looking for investors.

I've read your link. Where's the actual progress?

But billions of euros has already been spent.

The work is very much ongoing in Lithuania: 114 km of railway is under construction, with tracks already laid in large parts of it. That is 43% of the initial phase (links to Poland and Latvia).

Let's keep in mind that it's not just standard gauge track. It's a high-speed rail project (200-250 km/h) and, for any country, it takes time to build such a huge infrastructure.

Yes, that’s how things work. You spend money on projects before their completion, just like you buy ingredients for dinner before a meal arrives on your plate.

I imagine you’re looking for the subheadings titled “completed in 2015” and “construction (2017-present)” though.

I doubt you've read the link since there are 3 sub-headers that explain the progress.

Today is 2025. Rail Baltica started in 2013.

Yes, I understand very well that "research" is a pipe, where you put billions of euros in one end, and get stack of papers on the other end. And somebody becomes rich in the process. Sapienti sat.

You are counting from some early planning phases. Compare, for example, how long it took for the UK to build High Speed 1 line.

It's worth noting that the non-HS standard gauge (part of Rail Baltica I) between Poland and Lithuania (up to Šeštokai Intermodal Terminal) was completed back in 2015. The freight trains have been operating on this line all the time.

I've read that (not tracks but) stations are the sources of big overruns for Rail Baltica.