2.4.0.6 Html 402 482 1 true 129 0 false 17 false false R1.htm 0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information Document Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformationDocument Document and Entity Information Document false false R2.htm 1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfIncome Consolidated Statements of Income false false R3.htm 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncome Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income false false R4.htm 1002501 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parentheticals) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeParentheticals Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parentheticals) true false R5.htm 1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets Consolidated Balance Sheets false false R6.htm 1003501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) false false R7.htm 1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows false false R8.htm 1005000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfChangesInEquity Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity false false R9.htm 1005501 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementOfChangesInEquityParenthetical Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical) false false R10.htm 2101100 - Disclosure - Description of the Business Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/DescriptionOfBusiness Description of the Business false false R11.htm 2104100 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/SignificantAccountingPolicies Significant Accounting Policies false false R12.htm 2107100 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/EarningsPerShare Earnings Per Share false false R13.htm 2110100 - Disclosure - Elimination of Deferred Statutory Profit Sharing Liability, Net Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/EliminationOfDeferredStatutoryProfitSharingLiabilityNet Elimination of Deferred Statutory Profit Sharing Liability, Net false false R14.htm 2113100 - Disclosure - Insurance Recoveries Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/InsuranceRecoveries Insurance Recoveries false false R15.htm 2116100 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PropertyAndEquipmentIncludingConcessionAssets Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) false false R16.htm 2122100 - Disclosure - Other Balance Sheet Captions Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/OtherBalanceSheetCaptions Other Balance Sheet Captions false false R17.htm 2125100 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/FairValueMeasurements Fair Value Measurements false false R18.htm 2128100 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/LongTermDebt Long-Term Debt false false R19.htm 2131100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/IncomeTaxes Income Taxes false false R20.htm 2134100 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/StockholdersEquity Stockholders' Equity false false R21.htm 2137100 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ShareBasedCompensation Share-Based Compensation false false R22.htm 2140100 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefits Postemployment Benefits false false R23.htm 2143100 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies Commitments and Contingencies false false R24.htm 2146100 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/DerivativeInstruments Derivative Instruments false false R25.htm 2152100 - Disclosure - Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/QuarterlyFinancialDataUnaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) false false R26.htm 2153100 - Disclosure - Geographic Information Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/GeographicInformation Geographic Information false false R27.htm 2154100 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/SubsequentEvents Subsequent Events false false R28.htm 2204201 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) false false R29.htm 2307301 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables Earnings Per Share (Tables) false false R30.htm 2316301 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PropertyAndEquipmentIncludingConcessionAssetsTables Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) (Tables) false false R31.htm 2322301 - Disclosure - Other Balance Sheet Captions (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/OtherBalanceSheetCaptionsTables Other Balance Sheet Captions (Tables) false false R32.htm 2328301 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/LongTermDebtTables Long-Term Debt (Tables) false false R33.htm 2331301 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/IncomeTaxesTables Income Taxes (Tables) false false R34.htm 2334301 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/StockholdersEquityTables Stockholders' Equity (Tables) false false R35.htm 2337301 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationTables Share-Based Compensation (Tables) false false R36.htm 2340301 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefitsTables Postemployment Benefits (Tables) false false R37.htm 2343301 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesTables Commitments and Contingencies (Tables) false false R38.htm 2346301 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsTables Derivative Instruments (Tables) false false R39.htm 2352301 - Disclosure - Quarerly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/QuarerlyFinancialDataUnauditedTables Quarerly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables) false false R40.htm 2353301 - Disclosure - Geographic Information (Tables) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/GeographicInformationTables Geographic Information (Tables) false false R41.htm 2401401 - Disclosure - Description of the Business (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessDetails Description of the Business (Details) false false R42.htm 2404402 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails Significant Accounting Policies (Details) false false R43.htm 2404403 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) Policy (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesPropertyAndEquipmentIncludingConcessionAssetsPolicyDetails Significant Accounting Policies Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) Policy (Details) false false R44.htm 2407402 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/EarningsPerShareNarrativeDetails Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) false false R45.htm 2407403 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share Reconciliation (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/EarningsPerShareReconciliationDetails Earnings Per Share Reconciliation (Details) false false R46.htm 2407404 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share Potentially Dilutive Shares Excluded from the Calculation (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/EarningsPerSharePotentiallyDilutiveSharesExcludedFromCalculationDetails Earnings Per Share Potentially Dilutive Shares Excluded from the Calculation (Details) false false R47.htm 2410401 - Disclosure - Elimination of Deferred Statutory Profit Sharing Liability, Net (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/EliminationOfDeferredStatutoryProfitSharingLiabilityNetDetails Elimination of Deferred Statutory Profit Sharing Liability, Net (Details) false false R48.htm 2413401 - Disclosure - Insurance Recoveries (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/InsuranceRecoveriesDetails Insurance Recoveries (Details) false false R49.htm 2416402 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PropertyAndEquipmentIncludingConcessionAssetsNarrativeDetails Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) (Narrative) (Details) false false R50.htm 2416403 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) Schedule of Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PropertyAndEquipmentIncludingConcessionAssetsScheduleOfPropertyAndEquipmentIncludingConcessionAssetsDetails Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) Schedule of Property and Equipment (including Concession Assets) (Details) false false R51.htm 2422402 - Disclosure - Other Balance Sheet Captions Other Current Assets (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/OtherBalanceSheetCaptionsOtherCurrentAssetsDetails Other Balance Sheet Captions Other Current Assets (Details) false false R52.htm 2422403 - Disclosure - Other Balance Sheet Captions Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/OtherBalanceSheetCaptionsAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesDetails Other Balance Sheet Captions Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Details) false false R53.htm 2425401 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsDetails Fair Value Measurements (Details) false false R54.htm 2428402 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt Schedule of Long-Term Debt (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/LongTermDebtScheduleOfLongTermDebtDetails Long-Term Debt Schedule of Long-Term Debt (Details) false false R55.htm 2428403 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt KCSR Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/LongTermDebtKcsrLongTermDebtNarrativeDetails Long-Term Debt KCSR Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) false false R56.htm 2428404 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt Tex-Mex Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/LongTermDebtTexMexLongTermDebtNarrativeDetails Long-Term Debt Tex-Mex Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) false false R57.htm 2428405 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt KCSM Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/LongTermDebtKcsmLongTermDebtNarrativeDetails Long-Term Debt KCSM Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) false false R58.htm 2428406 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt Leases and Debt Maturities (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/LongTermDebtLeasesAndDebtMaturitiesDetails Long-Term Debt Leases and Debt Maturities (Details) false false R59.htm 2431402 - Disclosure - Income Taxes Schedule of Income Tax Expense (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/IncomeTaxesScheduleOfIncomeTaxExpenseDetails Income Taxes Schedule of Income Tax Expense (Details) false false R60.htm 2431403 - Disclosure - Income Taxes Schedule of Income Before Income Taxes (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/IncomeTaxesScheduleOfIncomeBeforeIncomeTaxesDetails Income Taxes Schedule of Income Before Income Taxes (Details) false false R61.htm 2431404 - Disclosure - Income Taxes Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/IncomeTaxesScheduleOfDeferredTaxAssetsAndLiabilitiesDetails Income Taxes Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) false false R62.htm 2431405 - Disclosure - Income Taxes Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/IncomeTaxesScheduleOfEffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDetails Income Taxes Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) false false R63.htm 2431406 - Disclosure - Income Taxes Uncertain Tax Positions (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/IncomeTaxesUncertainTaxPositionsDetails Income Taxes Uncertain Tax Positions (Details) false false R64.htm 2431407 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/IncomeTaxesNarrativeDetails Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) false false R65.htm 2434402 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity Capital Stock Shares Authorized, Issued and Outstanding (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/StockholdersEquityCapitalStockSharesAuthorizedIssuedAndOutstandingDetails Stockholders' Equity Capital Stock Shares Authorized, Issued and Outstanding (Details) false false R66.htm 2434403 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity Treasury Stock (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/StockholdersEquityTreasuryStockDetails Stockholders' Equity Treasury Stock (Details) false false R67.htm 2434404 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/StockholdersEquityAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossDetails Stockholders' Equity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) false false R68.htm 2434405 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/StockholdersEquityNarrativeDetails Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) false false R69.htm 2434406 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/StockholdersEquityParentheticalDetails Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (Details) false false R70.htm 2437402 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails Share-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) false false R71.htm 2437403 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation, Stock Options (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationStockOptionsDetails Share-Based Compensation, Stock Options (Details) false false R72.htm 2437404 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Stock (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationNonvestedStockDetails Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Stock (Details) false false R73.htm 2437405 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation, Performance Based Awards (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationPerformanceBasedAwardsDetails Share-Based Compensation, Performance Based Awards (Details) false false R74.htm 2437406 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationEmployeeStockPurchasePlanDetails Share-Based Compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details) false false R75.htm 2440402 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefitsNarrativeDetails Postemployment Benefits (Narrative) (Details) false false R76.htm 2440403 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits Components of Net Benefits and Costs (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefitsComponentsOfNetBenefitsAndCostsDetails Postemployment Benefits Components of Net Benefits and Costs (Details) false false R77.htm 2440404 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits Change in Benefit Obligation (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefitsChangeInBenefitObligationDetails Postemployment Benefits Change in Benefit Obligation (Details) false false R78.htm 2440405 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits Weighted Average Assumptions Used for Benefit Obligations (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefitsWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedForBenefitObligationsDetails Postemployment Benefits Weighted Average Assumptions Used for Benefit Obligations (Details) false false R79.htm 2440406 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits Weighted Average Assumptions Used for Benefit Costs (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefitsWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedForBenefitCostsDetails Postemployment Benefits Weighted Average Assumptions Used for Benefit Costs (Details) false false R80.htm 2440407 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits Assumed Health Care Cost Trends (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefitsAssumedHealthCareCostTrendsDetails Postemployment Benefits Assumed Health Care Cost Trends (Details) false false R81.htm 2440408 - Disclosure - Postemployment Benefits Expected Benefit Payments (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/PostemploymentBenefitsExpectedBenefitPaymentsDetails Postemployment Benefits Expected Benefit Payments (Details) false false R82.htm 2443402 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesNarrativeDetails Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) false false R83.htm 2443403 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Personal Injury Liability Activity (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesPersonalInjuryLiabilityActivityDetails Commitments and Contingencies Personal Injury Liability Activity (Details) false false R84.htm 2446402 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments (Narrative) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsNarrativeDetails Derivative Instruments (Narrative) (Details) false false R85.htm 2446403 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments Fair Value of Derivative Instruments (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsDetails Derivative Instruments Fair Value of Derivative Instruments (Details) false false R86.htm 2446404 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments Derivative Instruments Affecting the Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsDerivativeInstrumentsAffectingConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeDetails Derivative Instruments Derivative Instruments Affecting the Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) false false R87.htm 2452402 - Disclosure - Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/QuarterlyFinancialDataUnauditedDetails Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) false false R88.htm 2453402 - Disclosure - Geographic Information (Information by Geographic Area) (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/GeographicInformationInformationByGeographicAreaDetails Geographic Information (Information by Geographic Area) (Details) false false R89.htm 2454401 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (Details) Sheet http://www.kcsouthern.com/role/SubsequentEventsDetails Subsequent Events (Details) false false All Reports Book All Reports Element us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 0. 'Shares' elements on report '2437406 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. Process Flow-Through: 1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Dec. 31, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Sep. 30, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Jun. 30, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Mar. 31, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Dec. 31, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Sep. 30, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Jun. 30, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Mar. 31, 2011' Process Flow-Through: 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Dec. 31, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Sep. 30, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Jun. 30, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Mar. 31, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Dec. 31, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Sep. 30, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Jun. 30, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended Mar. 31, 2011' Process Flow-Through: 1002501 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parentheticals) Process Flow-Through: 1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2010' Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2009' Process Flow-Through: 1003501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Process Flow-Through: 1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Process Flow-Through: 1005501 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical) Process Flow-Through: Removing column '12 Months Ended Dec. 31, 2012' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '12 Months Ended Dec. 31, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column '12 Months Ended Dec. 31, 2010' Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 09, 2005 Series D [Member]' ksu-20121231.xml ksu-20121231.xsd ksu-20121231_cal.xml ksu-20121231_def.xml ksu-20121231_lab.xml ksu-20121231_pre.xml true true