Segment and Geographic Area Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]

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

The following tables set forth the Company's North American & European Operations and Australian Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (dollars in thousands):

	December 31, 2014
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Operating revenues	$	1,325,830	$	313,182	$	1,639,012
Income from operations	$	330,560	$	91,011	$	421,571
Depreciation and amortization	$	128,986	$	28,095	$	157,081
Interest expense	$	43,722	$	12,440	$	56,162
Interest income	$	1,157	$	288	$	1,445
Provision for income taxes	$	83,664	$	23,443	$	107,107
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	$	280,657	$	25,064	$	305,721

	December 31, 2013
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Operating revenues	$	1,243,847	$	324,796	$	1,568,643
Income from operations	$	284,122	$	96,066	$	380,188
Depreciation and amortization	$	114,542	$	27,102	$	141,644
Interest expense	$	52,740	$	15,154	$	67,894
Interest income	$	3,631	$	340	$	3,971
Provision for income taxes	$	24,038	$	22,258	$	46,296
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	$	163,545	$	51,860	$	215,405

	December 31, 2012
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Operating 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 from RailAmerica, net	$	15,557	$	—	$	15,557
Expenditures for additions to property & equipment, net of grants from outside parties	$	69,636	$	122,426	$	192,062

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, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

	December 31, 2014						December 31, 2013
	North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations		North American & European Operations		Australian Operations		Total Operations
Property & equipment, net	$	3,282,328	$	506,154	$	3,788,482	$	2,883,452	$	557,292	$	3,440,744

Operating Revenues by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

Operating revenues for each geographic area for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2014				2013				2012
	Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total
Operating revenues:
United States	$	1,188,172	72.5	%	$	1,100,334	70.2	%	$	505,778	57.8	%
Non-United States:
Australia	$	313,182	19.1	%	$	324,796	20.7	%	$	289,023	33.0	%
Canada	116,677		7.1	%	128,838		8.2	%	65,327		7.5	%
Europe	20,981		1.3	%	14,675		0.9	%	14,788		1.7	%
Total Non-United States	$	450,840	27.5	%	$	468,309	29.8	%	$	369,138	42.2	%
Total operating revenues	$	1,639,012	100.0	%	$	1,568,643	100.0	%	$	874,916	100.0	%

Property and Equipment by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

Property and equipment for each geographic area as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2014				2013
	Amount		% of Total		Amount		% of Total
Property and equipment located in:
United States	$	3,003,299	79.3	%	$	2,642,263	76.8	%
Non-United States:
Australia	$	506,154	13.4	%	$	557,292	16.2	%
Canada	266,305		7.0	%	226,310		6.6	%
Europe	12,724		0.3	%	14,879		0.4	%
Total Non-United States	$	785,183	20.7	%	$	798,481	23.2	%
Total property and equipment, net	$	3,788,482	100.0	%	$	3,440,744	100.0	%