Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Intangible assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2017							Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets:
Amortizable intangible assets:
Operational network rights	$	495,088	$	(13,260	)	$	481,828	92
Track access agreements	467,098		(91,059		)	376,039		41
Customer contracts and relationships	796,354		(100,621		)	695,733		24
Trade names/trademarks	13,296		(919		)	12,377		40
Favorable operating leases	2,441		(1,500		)	941		5
Total amortizable intangible assets	$	1,774,277	$	(207,359	)	$	1,566,918	46
Non-amortizable intangible assets:
Operating license						120
Total intangible assets, net						$	1,567,038

	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

Schedule Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

Intangible assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	2017							Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets:
Amortizable intangible assets:
Operational network rights	$	495,088	$	(13,260	)	$	481,828	92
Track access agreements	467,098		(91,059		)	376,039		41
Customer contracts and relationships	796,354		(100,621		)	695,733		24
Trade names/trademarks	13,296		(919		)	12,377		40
Favorable operating leases	2,441		(1,500		)	941		5
Total amortizable intangible assets	$	1,774,277	$	(207,359	)	$	1,566,918	46
Non-amortizable intangible assets:
Operating license						120
Total intangible assets, net						$	1,567,038

	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

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, 2017 will be as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

	Amount
2018	$	57,963
2019	53,132
2020	52,913
2021	52,823
2022	52,823
Thereafter	1,297,264
Total	$	1,566,918

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	North American Operations			Australian Operations		U.K./European Operations			Total Operations
Balance as of January 1, 2017:
Goodwill, gross	$	632,937		$	339,865	$	167,276		$	1,140,078
Accumulated impairment losses	—			—		(14,482		)	(14,482		)
Goodwill	$	632,937		$	339,865	$	152,794		$	1,125,596
Changes during the period:
Goodwill acquired	4,083			—		11,096			15,179
Acquisition accounting adjustments	(650		)	—		(21,765		)	(22,415		)
Currency translation adjustment	1,640			27,503		18,084			47,227
Balance as of December 31, 2017:
Goodwill, gross	$	638,010		$	367,368	$	174,691		$	1,180,069
Accumulated impairment losses	—			—		(14,482		)	(14,482		)
Goodwill	$	638,010		$	367,368	$	160,209		$	1,165,587

	North American Operations		Australian Operations			U.K./European Operations			Total Operations
Balance as of January 1, 2016:	$	605,234	$	39,312		$	182,029		$	826,575
Changes during the period:
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 as of December 31, 2016:
Goodwill, gross	$	632,937	$	339,865		$	167,276		$	1,140,078
Accumulated impairment losses	—		—			(14,482		)	(14,482		)
Goodwill	$	632,937	$	339,865		$	152,794		$	1,125,596