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Segment Information Property & Equipment (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Property and Equipment by Segment [Line Items]    
Property & equipment, net $ 4,014,856us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet $ 3,788,482us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
North American & European Operations [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Property and Equipment by Segment [Line Items]    
Property & equipment, net 3,307,854us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gwr_NorthAmericanEuropeanOperationsMember		 3,282,328us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gwr_NorthAmericanEuropeanOperationsMember
Australian Operations [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Property and Equipment by Segment [Line Items]    
Property & equipment, net 468,963us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= country_AU		 506,154us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= country_AU
Freightliner [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Property and Equipment by Segment [Line Items]    
Property & equipment, net $ 238,039us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gwr_FreightlinerMember