Intangible Assets, Other Assets, Net and Goodwill Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 28, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at begining of period	$ 160,277,000	$ 160,629,000
Goodwill additions	474,115,000	426,000
Currency translation adjustment	561,000	(778,000)
Balance at end of period	634,953,000	160,277,000
Goodwill			474,115,000	474,115,000
Goodwill expected tax deductible amount	$ 25,000,000