CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,307,998	$ 3,044,454	$ 2,566,392
Cost of sales	(2,260,182)	(2,108,472)	(1,802,365)
Gross profit	1,047,816	935,982	764,027
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(347,373)	(324,539)	(262,718)
Engineering expenses	(71,213)	(61,886)	(46,289)
Amortization expense	(21,663)	(22,448)	(17,710)
Total operating expenses	(440,249)	(408,873)	(326,717)
Income from operations	607,567	527,109	437,310
Other income and expenses
Interest expense, net	(16,888)	(17,574)	(15,341)
Other (expense), net	(5,311)	(1,680)	(882)
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	585,368	507,855	421,087
Income tax expense	(186,740)	(156,175)	(128,852)
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	$ 398,628	$ 351,680	$ 292,235
Basic
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 4.14	$ 3.66	$ 3.05
Diluted
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 4.10	$ 3.62	$ 3.01
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	96,074	95,781	95,463
Diluted (in shares)	97,006	96,885	96,832