Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 3,400.7	$ 3,058.7
Net income		104.2	75.3
Other comprehensive income		0.6	0.3
Dividends on common stock	(23.6)	(23.6)	(21.4)
Options exercised and stock subscribed, net of shares withheld for employee taxes		(2.2)	1.0
Tax benefit from share-based compensation		2.9	13.2
Share-based compensation		4.6	3.2
Ending balance		3,487.1	3,130.2
$25 Par Preferred Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends on preferred stock		(0.1)	(0.1)
Kansas City Southern Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		3,096.6	2,764.5
Net income		103.8	75.0
Other comprehensive income		0.6	0.3
Dividends on common stock		(23.6)	(21.4)
Options exercised and stock subscribed, net of shares withheld for employee taxes		(2.2)	1.0
Tax benefit from share-based compensation		2.9	13.2
Share-based compensation		4.6	3.2
Ending balance		3,182.6	2,835.7
Kansas City Southern Stockholders' Equity [Member] | $25 Par Preferred Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends on preferred stock		(0.1)	(0.1)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		304.1	294.2
Net income		0.4	0.3
Ending balance		$ 304.5	$ 294.5