Name:	ksu_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
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Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets and certain intangibles used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, track structure, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, computer equipment and concession assets.

No definition available.

Name:	ksu_GrossPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	ksu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets and certain intangibles used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, track structure, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, computer equipment and concession assets.

No definition available.

Name:	ksu_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncludingConcessionAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	ksu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

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Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 926
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120154696&loc=d3e54445-107959

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LandMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=ksu_ConcessionLandRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=ksu_RoadPropertyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_RailroadTransportationEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_TechnologyEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type: