Debt (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	$ 99.9
2014	298.9
2015	175.1
2016	440.8
2017	82.3
Thereafter	1,962.0
Recourse | Manufacturing/Corporate
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	0.2
2014	0.2
2015	0.2
2016	0.2
2017	0.3
Thereafter	450.0
Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Capital lease obligations
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	2.2
2014	3.1
2015	3.3
2016	3.5
2017	3.7
Thereafter	29.3
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2006 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	11.5
2014	16.9
2015	18.6
2016	21.9
2017	24.1
Thereafter	159.2
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Promissory notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	21.6
2014	25.4
2015	22.7
2016	348.5
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2009 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	7.7
2014	9.9
2015	9.6
2016	6.5
2017	6.3
Thereafter	166.7
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2010 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	11.0
2014	14.0
2015	15.3
2016	15.0
2017	13.7
Thereafter	268.9
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2012 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	12.5
2014	16.6
2015	15.7
2016	15.9
2017	13.8
Thereafter	256.6
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TILC warehouse facility
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	2.4
2014	4.6
2015	0.5
2016	0
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes, total outstanding
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	0
2014	170.0
2015	0
2016	0
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes - owned by Trinity
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	0
2014	(108.8)
2015	0
2016	0
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2014	61.2
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	30.8
2014	40.1
2015	35.7
2016	29.3
2017	20.4
Thereafter	631.3
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Facility termination payments - TILC warehouse facility
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining nine months of 2013	0
2014	106.9
2015	53.5
2016	0
2017	0
Thereafter	$ 0