Intangible Assets and Goodwill Intangible Assets (Details) AUD in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2016 AUD	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Gross Carrying Amount		$ 1,580,784	$ 1,206,872
Accumulated Amortization		(144,405)	(113,920)
Intangible Assets, Net		$ 1,436,379	$ 1,092,952
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)		48 years	62 years
Total intangible assets, net		$ 1,472,376	$ 1,128,952
Perpetual track access agreements
Non-amortizable intangible assets		35,891	35,891
Operating license
Non-amortizable intangible assets		106	109
Operational network rights [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount		399,751	477,706
Accumulated Amortization		(7,050)	(3,693)
Intangible Assets, Net		$ 392,701	$ 474,013
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)		100 years	100 years
Track access agreements [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount		$ 416,878	$ 415,348
Accumulated Amortization		(72,442)	(57,751)
Intangible Assets, Net		$ 344,436	$ 357,597
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)		43 years	43 years
Customer contracts and relationships [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount		$ 750,057	$ 297,519
Accumulated Amortization		(63,520)	(51,618)
Intangible Assets, Net		$ 686,537	$ 245,901
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)		24 years	30 years
Trade names/trademarks [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount		$ 11,888	$ 13,327
Accumulated Amortization		(524)	(268)
Intangible Assets, Net		$ 11,364	$ 13,059
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)		40 years	40 years
Favorable operating leases [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount		$ 2,210	$ 2,972
Accumulated Amortization		(869)	(590)
Intangible Assets, Net		$ 1,341	$ 2,382
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)		5 years	5 years
GRail [Member] | Customer Contracts [Member]
Fair values assigned to amortizable intangible assets	AUD 635,000	$ 470,599
U.K./European Operations [Member] | ERS Railways [Member] | Customer contracts and relationships [Member]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived		$ 4,100