2.2.0.7 true Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) 0607 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Details) true false In Millions false false 1 USD false false Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 2 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 3 USD true false false false Successor us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_SuccessorMember us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 4 USD true false false false Successor us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_SuccessorMember us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 $ false 5 USD true false false false Predecessor us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_PredecessorMember us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ false 6 USD true false false false Predecessor us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_PredecessorMember us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ false 7 USD true false false false Predecessor us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_PredecessorMember us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 $ 5 Summary of Company's accrued obligations for personal injury matters 3 bni_SummaryOfCompanysAccruedObligationsForPersonalInjuryMattersAbstract bni false na duration Summary of Company's accrued obligations for personal injury matters. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:stringItemType string Summary of Company's accrued obligations for personal injury matters. false 6 Beginning balance 4 bni_PersonalInjuryLossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue bni false debit instant The carrying amount of personal injury loss contingency reserves. false false false false false false false false true false false periodstartlabel false 1 true true false false 626000000 626 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 true true false false 648000000 648 true false false 4 true true false false 664000000 664 true false false 5 true true false false 632000000 632 true false false 6 true true false false 688000000 688 true false false 7 true true false false 693000000 693 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The carrying amount of personal injury loss contingency reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Accruals 4 bni_PersonalInjuryLossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueProvision bni false credit duration The charge against earnings in the period to increase personal injury loss contingency reserves, net of any adjustments to... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 9000000 9 true false false 4 false true false false 14000000 14 true false false 5 false true false false 10000000 10 true false false 6 false true false false 26000000 26 true false false 7 false true false false 54000000 54 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The charge against earnings in the period to increase personal injury loss contingency reserves, net of any adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Payments 4 bni_PersonalInjuryLossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments bni false debit duration The payments made in the period which reduced personal injury loss contingency reserves. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -31000000 -31 true false false 4 false true false false -52000000 -52 true false false 5 false true false false -9000000 -9 true false false 6 false true false false -34000000 -34 true false false 7 false true false false -67000000 -67 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The payments made in the period which reduced personal injury loss contingency reserves. No authoritative reference available. true 9 Ending balance 4 bni_PersonalInjuryLossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue bni false debit instant The carrying amount of personal injury loss contingency reserves. false false false false false false false false false true false periodendlabel false 1 false true false false 626000000 626 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 626000000 626 true false false 4 false true false false 626000000 626 true false false 5 false true false false 633000000 633 true false false 6 false true false false 680000000 680 true false false 7 false true false false 680000000 680 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The carrying amount of personal injury loss contingency reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Summary of Company's accrued obligations for environmental matters 3 bni_SummaryOfCompanysAccruedObligationsForEnvironmentalMattersAbstract bni false na duration Summary of Company's accrued obligations for Environmental Matters. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:stringItemType string Summary of Company's accrued obligations for Environmental Matters. false 11 Beginning balance 4 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false true false false periodstartlabel false 1 false true false false 493000000 493 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 505000000 505 true false false 4 false true false false 514000000 514 true false false 5 false true false false 517000000 517 true false false 6 false true false false 550000000 550 true false false 7 false true false false 546000000 546 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 96-1 -Paragraph 161 -Subparagraph a Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9 false 12 Accruals 4 bni_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvision bni false credit duration The charge against earnings in the period to increase environmental loss contingency reserves, net of any adjustments to... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 5000000 5 true false false 4 false true false false 6000000 6 true false false 5 false true false false 6000000 6 true false false 6 false true false false -3000000 -3 true false false 7 false true false false 28000000 28 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The charge against earnings in the period to increase environmental loss contingency reserves, net of any adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Payments 4 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments us-gaap true debit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false -17000000 -17 true false false 4 false true false false -27000000 -27 true false false 5 false true false false -9000000 -9 true false false 6 false true false false -18000000 -18 true false false 7 false true false false -45000000 -45 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The aggregate amount disbursed during the reporting period to settle environmental loss contingencies. No authoritative reference available. true 14 Ending balance 4 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false true false periodendlabel false 1 false true false false 493000000 493 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 493000000 493 true false false 4 false true false false 493000000 493 true false false 5 false true false false 514000000 514 true false false 6 false true false false 529000000 529 true false false 7 false true false false 529000000 529 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 96-1 -Paragraph 161 -Subparagraph a Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9 false 15 Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract] 3 bni_CommitmentsAndContingenciesTextualsAbstract bni false na duration Commitments And Contingencies Textuals Abstract. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:stringItemType string Commitments And Contingencies Textuals Abstract. false 16 Projected percentage of future unasserted asbestos claims filed within next 10 years 4 bni_ProjectedPercentageOfFutureUnassertedAsbestosClaimsWithinNextTenYears bni false na instant Projected percentage of future unasserted asbestos claims filed within next 10 years. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0.55 0.55 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:pureItemType pure Projected percentage of future unasserted asbestos claims filed within next 10 years. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Projected percentage of future unasserted asbestos claims filed within next 15 years 4 bni_ProjectedPercentageOfFutureUnassertedAsbestosClaimsWithinNextFifteenYears bni false na instant Projected percentage of future unasserted asbestos claims filed within next 15 years. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0.75 0.75 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:pureItemType pure Projected percentage of future unasserted asbestos claims filed within next 15 years. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Projected Percentage Of Future Unasserted Asbestos Claims Within Next Twenty Five Years 4 bni_ProjectedPercentageOfFutureUnassertedAsbestosClaimsWithinNextTwentyFiveYears bni false na instant Projected percentage of future unasserted asbestos claims filed within next 25 years. false false false false false false false false false false false label false 1 false true false false 0.9 0.9 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:pureItemType pure Projected percentage of future unasserted asbestos claims filed within next 25 years. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Accruals for personal injury matters included in current liabilities 4 bni_PersonalInjuryLossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent bni false credit instant The portion of the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the personal injury loss contingency reserves which is... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 165000000 165 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The portion of the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the personal injury loss contingency reserves which is expected to be resolved within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Future costs to settle personal injury claims, minimum 4 bni_PersonalInjuryLossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMinimum bni false debit instant The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from personal injury contingencies. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 555000000 555 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from personal injury contingencies. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Future costs to settle personal injury claims, maximum 4 bni_PersonalInjuryLossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum bni false debit instant The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from personal injury contingencies. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 735000000 735 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from personal injury contingencies. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Best estimate of future obligation for the settlement of personal injury claims 4 bni_PersonalInjuryLossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue bni false debit instant The carrying amount of personal injury loss contingency reserves. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 626000000 626 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 626000000 626 true false false 4 false true false false 626000000 626 true false false 5 false true false false 633000000 633 true false false 6 false true false false 680000000 680 true false false 7 false true false false 680000000 680 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The carrying amount of personal injury loss contingency reserves. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Third-party investments of BNSF IC classified as cash and cash equivalents 4 bni_ThirdPartyInvestmentsOfBnsfIcClassifiedAsCashAndCashEquivalents bni false debit instant Third-party investments of BNSF IC classified as cash and cash equivalents. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 480000000 480 false false false 2 false true false false 485000000 485 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Third-party investments of BNSF IC classified as cash and cash equivalents. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Recorded liability for third party environmental tort claims 4 bni_RecordedLiabilityForThirdPartyEnvironmentalTortClaims bni false debit instant Recorded liability for third party environmental tort claims. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 13000000 13 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Recorded liability for third party environmental tort claims. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Number of administrative and judicial proceedings and other mandatory cleanup efforts, total sites 4 bni_AdministrativeJudicialAndOtherMandatoryCleanupEffortsSites bni false na instant Administrative, Judicial and other mandatory cleanup efforts, Total Sites. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 297 297 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:integerItemType integer Administrative, Judicial and other mandatory cleanup efforts, Total Sites. No authoritative reference available. false 26 Number of administrative and judicial proceedings and other mandatory cleanup efforts, Superfund sites 4 bni_AdministrativeJudicialAndOtherMandatoryCleanupEffortsSuperfundSites bni false na instant Administrative, Judicial and other mandatory cleanup efforts, Superfund Sites. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 19 19 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:integerItemType integer Administrative, Judicial and other mandatory cleanup efforts, Superfund Sites. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Accruals for environment matters included in current liabilities 4 us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 90000000 90 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable in twelve months or in the next operating cycle if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 96-1 -Paragraph 161, 163 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Chapter 3 -Section A -Paragraph 8 false 28 Anticipated period for which the majority of environment related accrued costs will be paid 4 bni_AnticipatedPeriodForWhichMajorityOfEnvironmentRelatedAccruedCostsWillBePaid bni false na instant Anticipated period for which the majority of environment related accrued costs will be paid. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 Next ten years Next ten years false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:stringItemType string Anticipated period for which the majority of environment related accrued costs will be paid. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Future costs for environmental liabilities, minimum 4 bni_FutureCostsForEnvironmentalLiabilitiesMinimum bni false debit instant The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from environmental contingencies. false false false false false false false false false false false label false 1 false true false false 345000000 345 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from environmental contingencies. No authoritative reference available. false 30 Future costs for environmental liabilities, maximum 4 bni_FutureCostsForEnvironmentalLiabilitiesMaximum bni false debit instant The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from environmental contingencies. false false false false false false false false false false false label false 1 false true false false 805000000 805 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from environmental contingencies. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Best estimate of future obligation for environmental costs 4 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 493000000 493 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 true true false false 493000000 493 true false false 4 true true false false 493000000 493 true false false 5 true true false false 514000000 514 true false false 6 true true false false 529000000 529 true false false 7 true true false false 529000000 529 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 96-1 -Paragraph 161 -Subparagraph a Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9 false 7 27 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true