Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information - Condensed Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 916,034	$ 772,031
Cost of sales	(646,327)	(516,851)
Gross profit	269,707	255,180
Total operating expenses	(154,849)	(112,999)
Income from operations	114,858	142,181
Interest expense, net	(17,712)	(4,871)
Other income (expense), net	2,319	154
Equity earnings (loss)	0	0
Income from operations before income taxes	99,465	137,464
Income tax expense	(27,461)	(43,301)
Net income	72,004	94,163
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,885	0
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	73,889	94,163
Comprehensive income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	121,842	121,785
Elimination
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(31,610)	(39,091)
Cost of sales	24,196	22,722
Gross profit	(7,414)	(16,369)
Total operating expenses	0	0
Income from operations	(7,414)	(16,369)
Interest expense, net	0	0
Other income (expense), net	0	0
Equity earnings (loss)	(80,227)	(151,721)
Income from operations before income taxes	(87,641)	(168,090)
Income tax expense	0	0
Net income	(87,641)	(168,090)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	(87,641)	(168,090)
Comprehensive income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	(87,641)	(168,090)
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	144,544	176,986
Cost of sales	(98,950)	(129,081)
Gross profit	45,594	47,905
Total operating expenses	(24,293)	(37,876)
Income from operations	21,301	10,029
Interest expense, net	(14,611)	(6,669)
Other income (expense), net	13,081	10,816
Equity earnings (loss)	68,285	113,022
Income from operations before income taxes	88,056	127,198
Income tax expense	(14,165)	(33,035)
Net income	73,891	94,163
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	73,891	94,163
Comprehensive income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	74,747	93,932
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	258,712	318,152
Cost of sales	(167,607)	(190,366)
Gross profit	91,105	127,786
Total operating expenses	(29,871)	(32,351)
Income from operations	61,234	95,435
Interest expense, net	2,160	1,725
Other income (expense), net	(1,260)	(4,480)
Equity earnings (loss)	11,942	38,699
Income from operations before income taxes	74,076	131,379
Income tax expense	(141)	(1,000)
Net income	73,935	130,379
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	73,935	130,379
Comprehensive income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	73,935	130,378
Non-Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	544,388	315,984
Cost of sales	(403,966)	(220,126)
Gross profit	140,422	95,858
Total operating expenses	(100,685)	(42,772)
Income from operations	39,737	53,086
Interest expense, net	(5,261)	73
Other income (expense), net	(9,502)	(6,182)
Equity earnings (loss)	0	0
Income from operations before income taxes	24,974	46,977
Income tax expense	(13,155)	(9,266)
Net income	11,819	37,711
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,885	0
Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	13,704	37,711
Comprehensive income attributable to Wabtec shareholders	$ 60,801	$ 65,565