CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 772,031	$ 818,594
Cost of sales	(516,851)	(563,239)
Gross profit	255,180	255,355
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(89,751)	(84,771)
Engineering expenses	(17,953)	(16,863)
Amortization expense	(5,295)	(5,301)
Total operating expenses	(112,999)	(106,935)
Income from operations	142,181	148,420
Other income and expenses
Interest expense, net	(4,871)	(4,306)
Other income (expense), net	154	(2,866)
Income from operations before income taxes	137,464	141,248
Income tax expense	(43,301)	(45,084)
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	$ 94,163	$ 96,164
Basic
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03	$ 1.00
Diluted
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.02	$ 0.99
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic shares outstanding (in shares)	91,258	96,243
Diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	92,149	97,385