Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									$ 3,811.9		$ 2,938.3		$ 1,930.7
Revenues - Intersegment									0		0		0
Total revenues	1,012.9	907.3	995.5	896.2	914.3	756.6	674.3	593.1	3,811.9		2,938.3		1,930.7
Operating Profit (Loss)	158.9	140.7	152.5	122.7	139.5	104.6	95.4	87.3	574.8		426.8		294.2
Assets	6,642.0				6,088.5				6,642.0		6,088.5		5,718.8
Depreciation and amortization									193.7		187.7		180.9
Capital Expenditures									469.2		335.6		252.8
Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									1,512.1		931.7		289.7
Revenues - Intersegment									500.9		343.0		232.4
Total revenues									2,013.0		1,274.7		522.1
Operating Profit (Loss)									199.0		77.3		1.5
Assets	916.2				684.6				916.2		684.6		482.9
Depreciation and amortization									21.8		23.9		24.0
Capital Expenditures									47.8		11.4		4.0
Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									461.2		440.4		333.5
Revenues - Intersegment									22.5		12.9		20.5
Total revenues									483.7		453.3		354.0
Operating Profit (Loss)									44.8		54.9		37.8
Assets	415.2				370.7				415.2		370.7		294.0
Depreciation and amortization									16.6		15.5		15.0
Capital Expenditures									15.7		7.7		3.5
Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									675.2		548.5		422.3
Revenues - Intersegment									0		0		0
Total revenues									675.2		548.5		422.3
Operating Profit (Loss)									124.7		106.4		69.0
Assets	154.4				189.2				154.4		189.2		94.5
Depreciation and amortization									7.6		6.4		5.5
Capital Expenditures									15.0		38.0		14.6
Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									506.0		454.8		408.5
Revenues - Intersegment									52.6		18.0		11.1
Total revenues									558.6		472.8		419.6
Operating Profit (Loss)									18.2		8.9		35.1
Assets	400.1				392.9				400.1		392.9		352.4
Depreciation and amortization									19.0		18.4		17.1
Capital Expenditures									25.2		10.4		8.1
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									644.4		551.4		464.5
Revenues - Intersegment									2.7		0.6		0
Total revenues									647.1		552.0		464.5
Operating Profit (Loss)									300.9		254.5		207.0
Assets	4,538.8				4,462.1				4,538.8		4,462.1		4,452.6
Depreciation and amortization									120.5	[1]	115.7	[1]	112.6	[1]
Capital Expenditures									352.6		258.6		213.8
All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									13.0		11.5		12.2
Revenues - Intersegment									68.4		50.3		36.3
Total revenues									81.4		61.8		48.5
Operating Profit (Loss)									(10.2)		(3.8)		(11.4)
Assets	30.9				30.5				30.9		30.5		27.5
Depreciation and amortization									4.4		4.4		3.6
Capital Expenditures									6.6		4.0		4.2
Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									0		0		0
Revenues - Intersegment									0		0		0
Total revenues									0		0		0
Operating Profit (Loss)									(51.5)		(43.6)		(33.8)
Assets	744.9				512.9				744.9		512.9		538.5
Depreciation and amortization									3.9		3.6		3.4
Capital Expenditures									6.3		5.5		4.6
Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									0		0		0
Revenues - Intersegment									(485.9)		(325.5)		(216.8)
Total revenues									(485.9)		(325.5)		(216.8)
Operating Profit (Loss)									(50.8)		(28.3)		(8.4)
Assets	(446.2)				(440.3)				(446.2)		(440.3)		(522.1)
Depreciation and amortization									0		0		0
Capital Expenditures									0		0		0
Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External									0		0		0
Revenues - Intersegment									(161.2)		(99.3)		(83.5)
Total revenues									(161.2)		(99.3)		(83.5)
Operating Profit (Loss)									(0.3)		0.5		(2.6)
Assets	(112.3)				(114.1)				(112.3)		(114.1)		(1.5)
Depreciation and amortization									(0.1)		(0.2)		(0.3)
Capital Expenditures									$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Depreciation and rent expense are components of operating profit. Interest expense is not a component of operating profit and includes the effect of hedges. Intercompany interest expense arises from Trinity’s ownership of a portion of TRIP Holdings’ Senior Secured Notes and is eliminated in consolidation. See Note 11 Debt.