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Stock-Based Compensation Compensation Costs from Equity Awards (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Compensation costs from the Company's stock-based awards $ 12.7us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 11.7us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 7.9us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Compensation costs related to non-vested awards not yet recognized 17.7us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized    
Period over which non-vested awards will be recognized 3 years    
Weighted average period over which non-vested awards will be recognized 1 year 3 months 25 days    
Income tax benefit recognized 4.4us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 5.3us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 4.5us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Total income tax benefit realized from exercise of equity awards 11.0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 17.7us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 10.9us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
Acceleration of Equity Awards for RailAmerica Employee Terminations [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Compensation costs from the acceleration of equity awards   $ 5.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gwr_AccelerationofEquityAwardsforRailAmericaEmployeeTerminationsMember
$ 4.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gwr_AccelerationofEquityAwardsforRailAmericaEmployeeTerminationsMember