CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 723,601	$ 847,028	$ 1,495,632	$ 1,665,622
Cost of sales	(486,212)	(579,264)	(1,003,063)	(1,142,503)
Gross profit	237,389	267,764	492,569	523,119
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(80,610)	(88,992)	(170,361)	(173,763)
Engineering expenses	(18,029)	(17,750)	(35,982)	(34,613)
Amortization expense	(5,466)	(5,162)	(10,761)	(10,463)
Total operating expenses	(104,105)	(111,904)	(217,104)	(218,839)
Income from operations	133,284	155,860	275,465	304,280
Other income and expenses
Interest expense, net	(4,969)	(4,041)	(9,840)	(8,347)
Other expense, net	(1,229)	(1,887)	(1,075)	(4,753)
Income from operations before income taxes	127,086	149,932	264,550	291,180
Income tax expense	(36,601)	(48,428)	(79,902)	(93,512)
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	$ 90,485	$ 101,504	$ 184,648	$ 197,668
Basic
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 1.05	$ 2.03	$ 2.05
Diluted
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 1.04	$ 2.02	$ 2.03
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic shares outstanding (in shares)	89,846	96,338	90,832	96,066
Diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	90,559	97,435	91,628	97,112