CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,931,188	$ 3,307,998	$ 3,044,454
Cost of sales	(2,006,949)	(2,260,182)	(2,108,472)
Gross profit	924,239	1,047,816	935,982
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(371,805)	(347,373)	(324,539)
Engineering expenses	(71,375)	(71,213)	(61,886)
Amortization expense	(22,698)	(21,663)	(22,448)
Total operating expenses	(465,878)	(440,249)	(408,873)
Income from operations	458,361	607,567	527,109
Other income and expenses
Interest expense, net	(42,561)	(16,888)	(17,574)
Other (expense) income, net	(2,963)	(5,311)	(1,680)
Income from operations before income taxes	412,837	585,368	507,855
Income tax expense	(99,433)	(186,740)	(156,175)
Net income	313,404	398,628	351,680
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(8,517)	0	0
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	$ 304,887	$ 398,628	$ 351,680
Basic
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 3.37	$ 4.14	$ 3.66
Diluted
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 3.34	$ 4.10	$ 3.62
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	90,359	96,074	95,781
Diluted (in shares)	91,141	97,006	96,885