Derivative Financial Instruments Contingent Forward Sale Contract (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Contingent forward sale contract [Member]	Jul. 17, 2012 The Carlyle Group [Member] RailAmerica [Member]	Oct. 02, 2012 Series A-1 Preferred Stock [Member] The Carlyle Group [Member] RailAmerica [Member]	Jul. 17, 2012 Series A-1 Preferred Stock [Member] The Carlyle Group [Member] RailAmerica [Member]	Sep. 28, 2012 Class A common stock [Member]
Derivatives [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of stock							$ 350,000,000
Preferred Stock conversion price						58.49
Premium on conversion price								4.50%
Share Price									$ 66.86
Contingent forward sale contract mark-to-market expense	$ 50,100,000	$ 0	$ 50,106,000	$ 0	$ 50,100,000