SILVARSTAR brings together a unique consortium of six leading industrial and academic partners who contribute excellence in noise and vibration modelling (ISVR, KU Leuven), engineering consulting (Vibratec, Wölfel), software development for environmental impact studies (Wölfel) and for auralisation and visualisation (EMPA), as well as dissemination of collaborative project results to the European rail manufacturing industry (UNIFE).<br/>The overall goal of SILVARSTAR is to provide the railway community with proven software tools and methodologies to assess the noise and vibration environmental impact of railway traffic on a system level.<br/>The first overall objective of SILVARSTAR is to provide the railway community with a commonly accepted, practical and validated methodology and a user-friendly prediction tool for ground vibration impact studies. This tool will be used for environmental impact assessment of new or upgraded railways on a system level. It will provide access to ground vibration predictions to a wider range of suitably qualified engineers and will facilitate project planning and implementation by improved simulation processes.<br/>The second overall objective of SILVARSTAR is to develop a fully functional system for auralisation and visualisation based on physically correct synthesised (exterior and interior) railway noise, providing interfaces with Virtual Reality visualisation software. This system will facilitate communication with the public, decision makers and designers through virtual experience before delivery of projects.