CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Activities
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	$ 398,628	$ 351,680	$ 292,235
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	64,734	61,261	51,193
Stock-based compensation expense	26,019	26,134	24,107
Deferred income taxes	4,981	(7,054)	15,248
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	587	812	(15)
Excess income tax benefits from exercise of stock options	(2,584)	(3,020)	(4,266)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions
Accounts receivable and unbilled accounts receivable	21,500	(17,413)	(149,699)
Inventories	20,147	(64,089)	26,060
Accounts payable	(76,650)	55,378	60,976
Accrued income taxes	21,740	23,763	(15,033)
Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities And Customer Deposits	(14,837)	68,729	(48,831)
Other assets and liabilities	(16,005)	(23,796)	(16,322)
Net cash provided by operating activities	448,260	472,385	235,653
Investing Activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(49,428)	(47,662)	(41,238)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment	1,784	421	6,000
Acquisitions of business, net of cash acquired	(129,550)	(300,437)	(223,454)
Deposit in escrow	(202,942)	0	0
Net cash used for investing activities	(380,136)	(347,678)	(258,692)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from debt	787,400	563,400	959,067
Payments of debt	(612,680)	(493,819)	(829,842)
Stock re-purchase	(387,787)	(26,757)	(32,998)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and other benefit plans	3,097	3,337	5,165
Excess income tax benefits from exercise of stock options	2,584	3,020	4,266
Payment of income tax withholding on share-based compensation	(14,565)	0	0
Earn-out settlement	0	(4,429)	0
Cash dividends ($0.28, $0.20, and $0.13 per share for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	(26,963)	(19,246)	(12,644)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(248,914)	25,506	93,014
Effect of changes in currency exchange rates	(18,868)	(10,124)	19
(Decrease) increase in cash	(199,658)	140,089	69,994
Cash, beginning of year	425,849	285,760	215,766
Cash, end of year	$ 226,191	$ 425,849	$ 285,760