Refundable Mexican Value Added Tax	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021
Accounts Receivable Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Refundable Mexican Value Added Tax	Refundable Mexican Value Added Tax Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V. (“KCSM”) is not required to charge its customers value added tax (“VAT”) on international import or export transportation services, resulting in KCSM paying more VAT on its expenses than it collects from customers. These excess VAT payments are refundable by the Mexican government. Prior to 2019, KCSM could offset its monthly refundable VAT balance with other tax obligations. In January 2019, Mexico tax reform eliminated the ability to offset other tax obligations with refundable VAT. Since January 2019, the Company has generated a refundable VAT balance and filed refund claims with the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (the “SAT”) that are still under review. KCSM has prior favorable Mexican court decisions and a legal opinion supporting its right under Mexican law to recover the refundable VAT balance from the Mexican government and believes the VAT to be fully collectible. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the KCSM refundable VAT balance was $142.6 million and $103.1 million, respectively. Refundable VAT is classified as a long-term asset on the consolidated balance sheets as a result of the prolonged refund claim process.