BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013 Segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of primary business segments									3
Revenue recognition
Sales	$ 342,602,000	$ 340,445,000	$ 364,305,000	$ 313,371,000	$ 359,687,000	$ 365,397,000	$ 339,645,000	$ 316,766,000	$ 1,360,723,000	$ 1,381,495,000	$ 1,295,581,000
Operating income (loss)	(43,507,000)	27,009,000	34,648,000	18,242,000	29,142,000	38,586,000	32,540,000	27,754,000	36,392,000	128,022,000	113,508,000
Assets	1,106,955,000				1,026,317,000				1,106,955,000	1,026,317,000	966,500,000
Depreciation and amortization									25,359,000	22,857,000	22,341,000
Capital expenditures									9,052,000	14,226,000	8,728,000
Transportation Systems
Revenue recognition
Sales									516,900,000	513,600,000	427,100,000
Operating income (loss)									62,400,000	76,300,000	66,900,000
Assets	370,600,000				269,900,000				370,600,000	269,900,000	169,800,000
Depreciation and amortization									5,000,000	3,700,000	3,600,000
Capital expenditures									2,800,000	2,700,000	2,200,000
Sales to Transport for London									190,700,000	178,700,000	170,200,000
MSS and CDS Segments
Revenue recognition
Sales to U.S. government agencies									703,500,000	685,500,000	728,200,000
Mission Support Services
Revenue recognition
Sales									468,500,000	491,400,000	476,500,000
Operating income (loss)									(36,100,000)	21,900,000	23,900,000
Assets	205,000,000				212,800,000				205,000,000	212,800,000	213,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									13,000,000	12,500,000	12,300,000
Capital expenditures									300,000	1,100,000	300,000
Defense Systems
Revenue recognition
Sales									375,100,000	375,400,000	390,700,000
Operating income (loss)									14,200,000	34,600,000	29,800,000
Assets	226,900,000				221,400,000				226,900,000	221,400,000	144,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									6,100,000	5,500,000	5,400,000
Capital expenditures									4,600,000	8,900,000	5,500,000
Other
Revenue recognition
Sales									200,000	1,100,000	1,300,000
Corporate and other
Revenue recognition
Assets	304,500,000				322,200,000				304,500,000	322,200,000	439,700,000
Depreciation and amortization									1,300,000	1,200,000	1,000,000
Capital expenditures									1,400,000	1,500,000	700,000
Unallocated corporate expenses and other
Revenue recognition
Operating income (loss)									$ (4,100,000)	$ (4,800,000)	$ (7,100,000)