Intangible Assets, Other Assets, Net and Goodwill Preliminarty Purchase Price Assigned to Intangibles (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012 years	Dec. 31, 2011 years	Dec. 31, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]	Dec. 28, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Customer Contracts [Member] RailAmerica [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Track Access Agreements [Member] RailAmerica [Member]
Intangible assets, net				$ 446,327	$ 451,100	$ 92,600	$ 358,500
Weighted Average Amortization Period	41	37	43

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to an identifiable intangible asset that will be amortized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 52

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizableIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant