This part of ISO 14837 provides general guidance on ground-borne vibration generated by the operation of rail systems, and the resultant ground-borne noise in buildings. It lists the factors and parameters that need to be taken into consideration and offers guidance on prediction methods appropriate for a range of circumstances (e.g. to support the assessment of effects on human occupants and sensitive equipment or operations inside the buildings in addition to the predictions required to assess the risk of damage to building structures). Attention is paid in this part of ISO 14837 to — characteristics of the source: emission (e.g. train, wheel, rail, track, supporting infrastructure), — propagation path: transmission (e.g. ground condition, distance), and — receiving structures: immission: (e.g. foundations, form of building construction). The guidance covers all forms of wheel and rail systems, from light-rail to high-speed trains and freight. This part of ISO 14837 provides guidance for rail systems at-grade, on elevated structures and in tunnels. This part of ISO 14837 does not deal with vibration arising from the construction and maintenance of the rail system. It does not deal with airborne noise. Structure-radiated noise from elevated structures, which can have a significant environmental impact, is also excluded.