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Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedges (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Effect of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments $ (18,686,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments $ (378,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
Interest (expense)/income | Cross-currency swap agreements [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Effect of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments 0us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
(554,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Other income/(loss), net | Cross-currency swap agreements [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Effect of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments 0us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember
176,000us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember
Loss on settlement of foreign currency forward purchase contracts [Member] | British pound forward purchase contracts [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Effect of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments $ (18,686,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= gwr_LossonsettlementofforeigncurrencyforwardpurchasecontractsMember
$ 0us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= gwr_LossonsettlementofforeigncurrencyforwardpurchasecontractsMember