Segment and Geographic Area Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA INFORMATION: [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

The following tables set forth our North American & European Operations and Australian Operations for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 (dollars in thousands).

	December 31, 2012
	North American & European Operations			Australian Operations			Total Operations
Revenues	$	585,893		$	289,023		$	874,916
Income from operations	115,387			74,935			190,322
Depreciation and amortization	50,156			23,249			73,405
Interest expense	(45,996		)	(16,849		)	(62,845		)
Interest income	3,219			506			3,725
Provision for income taxes	(28,451		)	(17,951		)	(46,402		)
Contingent forward sale contract mark-to-market expense	(50,106		)	—			(50,106		)
Income from equity investment in RailAmerica, net	15,557			—			15,557
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	(69,636		)	(122,426		)	(192,062		)

	December 31, 2011
	North American & European Operations			Australian Operations			Total Operations
Revenues	$	557,621		$	271,475		$	829,096
Income from operations	129,646			62,133			191,779
Depreciation and amortization	47,218			19,263			66,481
Interest expense	(23,171		)	(15,446		)	(38,617		)
Interest income	2,950			293			3,243
Provision for income taxes	(26,181		)	(12,350		)	(38,531		)
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	(59,383		)	(96,643		)	(156,026		)

	December 31, 2010
	North American & European Operations			Australian Operations			Total Operations
Revenues	$	494,787		$	135,408		$	630,195
Income from operations	119,902			10,508			130,410
Depreciation and amortization	43,807			7,359			51,166
Interest expense	(21,856		)	(1,291		)	(23,147		)
Interest income	485			1,912			2,397
Provision for income taxes	(27,176		)	(2,988		)	(30,164		)
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	(59,153		)	(19,885		)	(79,038		)

Property and Equipment by Segment [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth the property and equipment recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 (dollars in thousands):

	December 31, 2012						December 31, 2011
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations		North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Property & equipment	$	2,766,693	$	629,602	$	3,396,295	$	1,120,121	$	523,468	$	1,643,589

Operating Revenues by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

Operating revenues for each geographic area for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2012				2011				2010
	Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total
Operating revenues:
United States	$	489,157	55.9	%	$	478,511	57.7	%	$	434,132	68.9	%
Non-United States:
Australia	289,023		33.0	%	271,475		32.7	%	135,408		21.5	%
Canada	81,948		9.4	%	64,155		7.8	%	49,580		7.9	%
Europe	14,788		1.7	%	14,955		1.8	%	11,075		1.7	%
Total Non-United States	385,759		44.1	%	350,585		42.3	%	196,063		31.1	%
Total operating revenues	$	874,916	100.0	%	$	829,096	100.0	%	$	630,195	100.0	%

Property and Equipment by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

Property and equipment for each geographic area as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2012				2011				2010
	Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total
Property and equipment located in:
United States	$	2,487,782	73.2	%	$	993,665	60.5	%	$	892,295	61.8	%
Non-United States:
Australia	629,602		18.5	%	523,468		31.8	%	443,827		30.7	%
Canada	263,828		7.8	%	110,719		6.7	%	91,434		6.3	%
Europe	15,083		0.5	%	15,737		1.0	%	16,621		1.2	%
Total Non-United States	908,513		26.8	%	649,924		39.5	%	551,882		38.2	%
Total property and equipment	$	3,396,295	100.0	%	$	1,643,589	100.0	%	$	1,444,177	100.0	%