Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Intangible assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2016							Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets:
Amortizable intangible assets:
Operational network rights	$	399,751	$	(7,050	)	$	392,701	100
Track access agreements	416,878		(72,442		)	344,436		43
Customer contracts and relationships	750,057		(63,520		)	686,537		24
Trade names/trademarks	11,888		(524		)	11,364		40
Favorable operating leases	2,210		(869		)	1,341		5
Total amortizable intangible assets	$	1,580,784	$	(144,405	)	$	1,436,379	48
Non-amortizable intangible assets:
Perpetual track access agreements						35,891
Operating license						106
Total intangible assets, net						$	1,472,376

	2015							Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets:
Amortizable intangible assets:
Operational network rights	$	477,706	$	(3,693	)	$	474,013	100
Track access agreements	415,348		(57,751		)	357,597		43
Customer contracts and relationships	297,519		(51,618		)	245,901		30
Trade names/trademarks	13,327		(268		)	13,059		40
Favorable operating leases	2,972		(590		)	2,382		5
Total amortizable intangible assets	$	1,206,872	$	(113,920	)	$	1,092,952	62
Non-amortizable intangible assets:
Perpetual track access agreements						35,891
Operating license						109
Total intangible assets, net						$	1,128,952

Schedule Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

Intangible assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2016							Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets:
Amortizable intangible assets:
Operational network rights	$	399,751	$	(7,050	)	$	392,701	100
Track access agreements	416,878		(72,442		)	344,436		43
Customer contracts and relationships	750,057		(63,520		)	686,537		24
Trade names/trademarks	11,888		(524		)	11,364		40
Favorable operating leases	2,210		(869		)	1,341		5
Total amortizable intangible assets	$	1,580,784	$	(144,405	)	$	1,436,379	48
Non-amortizable intangible assets:
Perpetual track access agreements						35,891
Operating license						106
Total intangible assets, net						$	1,472,376

	2015							Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets:
Amortizable intangible assets:
Operational network rights	$	477,706	$	(3,693	)	$	474,013	100
Track access agreements	415,348		(57,751		)	357,597		43
Customer contracts and relationships	297,519		(51,618		)	245,901		30
Trade names/trademarks	13,327		(268		)	13,059		40
Favorable operating leases	2,972		(590		)	2,382		5
Total amortizable intangible assets	$	1,206,872	$	(113,920	)	$	1,092,952	62
Non-amortizable intangible assets:
Perpetual track access agreements						35,891
Operating license						109
Total intangible assets, net						$	1,128,952

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense

The Company estimates the future aggregate amortization expense related to its intangible assets as of December 31, 2016 will be as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

	Amount
2017	$	52,392
2018	50,963
2019	46,463
2020	46,263
2021	46,184
Thereafter	1,194,114
Total	$	1,436,379

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	December 31, 2016
	North American Operations		Australian Operations			U.K./European Operations			Total Operations
Balance at beginning of period	$	605,234	$	39,312		$	182,029		$	826,575
Goodwill acquired	26,969		308,267			—			335,236
Acquisition accounting adjustments	176		168			9,736			10,080
Goodwill impairment	—		—			(14,482		)	(14,482		)
Currency translation adjustment	558		(7,882		)	(24,489		)	(31,813		)
Balance at end of period	$	632,937	$	339,865		$	152,794		$	1,125,596

	December 31, 2015
	North American Operations			Australian Operations			U.K./European Operations			Total Operations
Balance at beginning of period	$	615,403		$	—		$	13,412		$	628,815
Goodwill acquired	920			42,312			172,821			216,053
Acquisition accounting adjustments	(6,895		)	—			—			(6,895		)
Currency translation adjustment	(4,194		)	(3,000		)	(4,204		)	(11,398		)
Balance at end of period	$	605,234		$	39,312		$	182,029		$	826,575