Employee Benefit Programs Defined Contribution Plans (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 G&W 401k savings plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 G&W 401k savings plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 G&W 401k savings plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 RailAmerica employees' 401(k) savings plan for railroad retirement employees [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 RailAmerica employees' 401(k) savings plan for FICA employees [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 G&W 401k savings plan and RailAmerica employees' 401(k) savings plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Canadian retirement benefit plan 1 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Canadian retirement benefit plan 1 [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2013 Canadian retirement benefit plan 2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Canada [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Canada [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Canada [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Australian retirement benefit plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Australian retirement benefit plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Australian retirement benefit plan [Member] USD ($)
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent of employees' gross pay	4.00%						6.00%	6.00%	5.00%				9.25%	9.00%	9.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employee's Contribution				50.00%
Defined contribution plan, maximum annual contributions per employee, amount				$ 2,500	$ 5,000		$ 3,295	3,500
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount		$ 1,800,000	$ 1,700,000			$ 3,800,000				$ 1,300,000	$ 700,000	$ 600,000	$ 4,400,000	$ 4,100,000	$ 2,800,000