Funded Debt To EBITDAR Ratio

No definition available.

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- Definition

Maximum Amount Of Acquisition Costs To Be Added Back To EBITDA

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum Leverage Covenant

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gwr_MaximumLeverageCovenant
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Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio Covenant

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gwr_MinimumInterestCoverageRatioCovenant
Namespace Prefix:	gwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Previous Debt Instrument Maturity Date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gwr_PreviousDebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	gwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter, etc.).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph b

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase for additional borrowings on the credit facility during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 4

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Long-term Debt (Details 2)	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
Long-term Debt (Details 2)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 15, 2010 USD ($)	Aug. 08, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Revolving Loan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Revolving Loan [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2011 Revolving Loan [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 15, 2010 Revolving Loan [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 08, 2008 Revolving Loan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 United States term loan	Jul. 29, 2011 United States term loan USD ($)	Aug. 08, 2008 United States term loan USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Australia term loan	Jul. 29, 2011 Australia term loan USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Australia term loan AUD	Dec. 31, 2011 Canadian term loan	Jul. 29, 2011 Canadian term loan USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Canadian term loan CAD	Aug. 08, 2008 Canadian term loan USD ($)	Aug. 08, 2008 Canadian term loan CAD	Jul. 29, 2011 Letter of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Swingline U.S. [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Swingline Europe [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 United States Revolving Loan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Australia Revolving Loan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 European Revolving Loan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum [Member] USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Previous Debt Instrument Maturity Date	Oct. 01, 2013
Maximum Amount Of Acquisition Costs To Be Added Back To EBITDA	$ 25,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Increase, Additional Borrowings					50,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date	Jul. 29, 2016
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		750,000,000	620,000,000	570,000,000			425,000,000	350,000,000	300,000,000		200,000,000	240,000,000		100,000,000	92,200,000		25,000,000	23,600,000	30,600,000	31,200,000	45,000,000	15,000,000	10,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding						191,900,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount						5,900,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage										1.80%			6.00%			2.68%								1.80%	6.00%	2.52%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.30%
Maximum Leverage Covenant	3.5
Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio Covenant	3.5
Funded Debt To EBITDAR Ratio																											3.0	2.25
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount						$ 227,200,000