The Company (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 Number_of_provinces	Feb. 12, 2010
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Rail route network distance (in miles)	32,500
Number of states in which entity operates	28
Number of Canadian provinces In which entity operates	3
Number of operating transportation service segments	1
Consumer Products
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of total freight revenues from one operating segment	35.00%
Industrial Products
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of total freight revenues from one operating segment	27.00%
Agricultural Products
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of total freight revenues from one operating segment	21.00%
Coal
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of total freight revenues from one operating segment	17.00%
Northern Sante Fe Corporation
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding shares acquired by parent company		100.00%
Holders of membership interests	1