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This paper provides a review of standards-based simulation approaches to assessing the ability of a given railway vehicle-track combination to resist sustained lateral dynamic oscillations known as hunting. First, an example is provided where a critical speed assessment simulation is performed using the method described in the Australian Standard AS7509 which yields an unexpected result, inconsistent with observations of real-world behaviour. Some assumptions required in application of the method, relating to configuration of the test and interpretation of the result, are discussed. In order to reconcile the inconsistency between simulation and measurement, the requirements and limits of other (European and American) standards are discussed and relevant literature reviewed. This information is utilised to develop a novel method used to conduct critical speed assessment, which in this case provided a better correlation with observations of real-world behaviour. Finally, thought is given to further developments as a means to improve the robustness of simulation as a tool to assess the severity of hunting-induced dynamic oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]