Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 544.5	$ 438.3	$ 1,568.0	$ 1,336.2
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits	109.3	87.3	314.1	271.7
Purchased services	50.6	48.0	153.5	140.9
Fuel	86.5	61.8	258.0	191.7
Equipment costs	41.4	37.5	125.5	117.5
Depreciation and amortization	47.9	46.1	139.1	138.8
Gain on insurance recoveries related to hurricane damage	(25.6)	0	(25.6)	0
Materials and other	52.6	41.6	142.2	124.2
Total operating expenses	362.7	322.3	1,106.8	984.8
Operating income	181.8	116.0	461.2	351.4
Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	4.7	5.2	13.6	16.2
Interest expense	(32.2)	(36.2)	(97.7)	(122.5)
Debt retirement costs	(3.9)	(1.9)	(14.2)	(49.3)
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	(7.2)	2.0	(6.9)	3.2
Other income, net	0.6	2.4	2.3	3.9
Income before income taxes	143.8	87.5	358.3	202.9
Income tax expense	43.7	34.7	122.4	78.5
Net income	100.1	52.8	235.9	124.4
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0.3	(0.1)	1.3	(1.2)
Net income attributable to Kansas City Southern and subsidiaries	99.8	52.9	234.6	125.6
Preferred stock dividends	0	2.7	1.5	8.2
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 99.8	$ 50.2	$ 233.1	$ 117.4
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.91	$ 0.49	$ 2.16	$ 1.18
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.91	$ 0.48	$ 2.13	$ 1.17
Average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic	109,515	102,082	107,752	99,337
Potentially dilutive common shares	347	7,428	2,052	7,485
Diluted	109,862	109,510	109,804	106,822