Intangible Assets, Other Assets, Net and Goodwill Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 RailAmerica [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Final allocation of fair values [Member] RailAmerica [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Final allocation of fair values [Member] RailAmerica [Member]	Dec. 28, 2012 Final allocation of fair values [Member] RailAmerica [Member]	Dec. 28, 2012 Preliminary allocation of fair values [Member] RailAmerica [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 634,953,000	$ 160,277,000			$ 474,115,000			$ 471,028,000	$ 474,115,000
Goodwill acquired	0
Goodwill, purchase accounting adjustments			(3,100,000)			(3,087,000)	474,115,000
Currency translation adjustment	(1,404,000)	561,000
Balance at end of period	630,462,000	634,953,000			474,115,000			471,028,000	474,115,000
Goodwill expected tax deductible amount				$ 30,000,000