Changes in Operations United States RailAmerica (Details) (RailAmerica [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	100.00%
RailAmerica outstanding common stock as of October 1, 2012	49,934,000
Cash purchase price per share	$ 27.50
Equity purchase price	$ 1,373,184,000
Payment of RailAmerica's outstanding term loan and revolving credit facility	659,198,000
Cash consideration	2,032,382,000
Impact of pre-acquisition share-based awards	9,400,000
Total consideration	2,041,782,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Refinancing of Debt	1,200,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	1,900,000,000
Number of employees acquired	2,000
Number of railroads	45
Track miles acquired	7,100
Number of U.S states in which entity operates	28
Canadian provinces operated in	3
Common stock and TEUs [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity	475,500,000
The Carlyle Group [Member] | Series A-1 Preferred Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	$ 350,000,000