Hurricane Alex	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Extraordinary and Unusual Items [Abstract]
Hurricane Alex	Hurricane Alex Hurricane Alex made landfall on June 30, 2010, causing widespread damage and flooding in central and northeastern Mexico. The hurricane resulted in extensive damage to Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V.’s track and bridge infrastructures, and also caused multiple track-related incidents and significantly disrupted the Company’s rail service. The Company maintains a comprehensive insurance program intended to cover such events. The property and casualty insurance program covers loss or damage to Company property and third-party property over which the Company has custody and control and covers losses associated with business interruption. This program has combined coverage for both property damage and business interruption and has a self-insured retention amount of $10.0 million for flood related losses. In addition, the Company also maintains a general liability insurance program. This program had a self-insured retention of $1.0 million in Mexico at the time of Hurricane Alex. The Company experienced lost revenues in the third quarter of 2010, as customers were required to use alternate carriers or modes of transportation until rail service was restored. In addition, the Company incurred losses related to property damage and incremental expenses, which were fully offset by a receivable for probable insurance recoveries. During the third quarter of 2011, the Company settled the portion of the insurance claim related to the property and casualty program, including business interruption for $66.0 million, before the related self-insured retention of $10.0 million, and the portion of the insurance claim related to general liability for third-party damages for $7.6 million, before the related self-insured retention of $1.0 million. As a result of these settlements, the Company recognized a gain on insurance recoveries of $25.6 million in the third quarter of 2011. This gain primarily represents the recovery of lost profits and the replacement value of property in excess of its carrying value, net of the self-insured retentions. The Company received $10.0 million of insurance proceeds in the fourth quarter of 2010, $49.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, and received the final settlement proceeds of $3.6 million on October 17, 2011.

Hurricane Alex

Hurricane Alex made landfall on June 30, 2010, causing widespread damage and flooding in central and northeastern Mexico. The hurricane resulted in extensive damage to Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V.’s track and bridge infrastructures, and also caused multiple track-related incidents and significantly disrupted the Company’s rail service.

The Company maintains a comprehensive insurance program intended to cover such events. The property and casualty insurance program covers loss or damage to Company property and third-party property over which the Company has custody and control and covers losses associated with business interruption. This program has combined coverage for both property damage and business interruption and has a self-insured retention amount of $10.0 million for flood related losses. In addition, the Company also maintains a general liability insurance program. This program had a self-insured retention of $1.0 million in Mexico at the time of Hurricane Alex.

The Company experienced lost revenues in the third quarter of 2010, as customers were required to use alternate carriers or modes of transportation until rail service was restored. In addition, the Company incurred losses related to property damage and incremental expenses, which were fully offset by a receivable for probable insurance recoveries.

During the third quarter of 2011, the Company settled the portion of the insurance claim related to the property and casualty program, including business interruption for $66.0 million, before the related self-insured retention of $10.0 million, and the portion of the insurance claim related to general liability for third-party damages for $7.6 million, before the related self-insured retention of $1.0 million. As a result of these settlements, the Company recognized a gain on insurance recoveries of $25.6 million in the third quarter of 2011. This gain primarily represents the recovery of lost profits and the replacement value of property in excess of its carrying value, net of the self-insured retentions.

The Company received $10.0 million of insurance proceeds in the fourth quarter of 2010, $49.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, and received the final settlement proceeds of $3.6 million on October 17, 2011.