CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Activities
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	$ 351,680us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 292,235us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 251,732us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	61,261us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	51,193us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	44,136us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Stock-based compensation expense	26,134us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	24,107us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	19,848us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Deferred income taxes	(7,054)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	15,248us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	581us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	812	(15)	1,112
Excess income tax benefits from exercise of stock options	(3,020)	(4,266)	(3,125)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions
Accounts receivable and unbilled accounts receivable	(17,413)	(149,699)	(22,976)
Inventories	(64,089)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	26,060us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(32,491)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Accounts payable	55,378	60,976	(12,483)
Accrued income taxes	23,763	(15,033)	(33,202)
Accrued liabilities and customer deposits	68,729	(48,831)	13,323
Other assets and liabilities	(23,796)	(16,322)	10,983
Net cash provided by operating activities	472,385	235,653	237,438
Investing Activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(47,662)	(41,238)	(36,001)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment	421	6,000	971
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(300,437)	(223,454)	(149,914)
Net cash used for investing activities	(347,678)	(258,692)	(184,944)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from debt	563,400	959,067	233,400
Payments of debt	(493,819)	(829,842)	(311,457)
Purchase of treasury stock	(26,757)	(32,998)	(46,556)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and other benefit plans	3,337	5,165	4,431
Excess income tax benefits from exercise of stock options	3,020	4,266	3,125
Earn-out settlement	(4,429)
Cash dividends ($0.20, $0.13 and $0.08 per share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012	(19,246)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(12,644)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(7,666)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	25,506	93,014	(124,723)
Effect of changes in currency exchange rates	(10,124)	19	2,380
Increase (decrease) in cash	140,089	69,994	(69,849)
Cash, beginning of year	285,760	215,766	285,615
Cash, end of year	$ 425,849	$ 285,760	$ 215,766

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.