Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 1,110.3		$ 907.3		$ 3,109.3		$ 2,799.0
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	205.6		140.7		548.5		415.9
Selected expense information:
Depreciation					156.2		144.5
Interest:
Interest expense	45.8		47.8		141.5		143.6
Leasing Group
Revenues:
Total revenues	150.6		159.3		454.6		493.7
Percent Change	(5.80%)				(8.40%)
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	74.0		85.1		211.3		228.0
Percentage Change	(13.00%)				(7.30%)
Operating profit margin:
Total operating profit margin	49.10%		53.20%		46.50%		45.90%
Selected expense information:
Depreciation	32.8	[1]	30.6	[1]	95.8	[1]	89.9	[1]
Percent Change, Depreciation	7.20%	[1]			6.60%	[1]
Maintenance	16.4	[1]	14.4	[1]	53.8	[1]	43.2	[1]
Percent Change, Maintenance	13.90%	[1]			24.50%	[1]
Rent	13.3	[1]	12.7	[1]	40.0	[1]	38.2	[1]
Percent Change, Rent	4.70%	[1]			4.70%	[1]
Interest:
Interest expense	37.3	[1]	39.3	[1]	116.2	[1]	118.4	[1]
Percent Change, Total interest expense	(12.40%)	[1]			(6.40%)	[1]
Leasing Group | Leasing and management
Revenues:
Total revenues	150.6		136.5		435.6		395.9
Percent Change	10.30%				10.00%
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	72.4		63.8		198.2		185.0
Percentage Change	13.50%				7.10%
Operating profit margin:
Total operating profit margin	48.10%		46.70%		45.50%		46.70%
Leasing Group | Railcars owned one year or less at the time of sale
Revenues:
Total revenues	0		23.4		19.0		100.5
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	0		4.3		3.5		20.7
Leasing Group | Railcars owned more than one year at the time of sale
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	1.6		17.0		9.6		22.3
Intercompany
Revenues:
Total revenues	0		0		0		0
Intercompany | Leasing Group
Revenues:
Total revenues	0		0.6		0		2.7
Interest:
Interest expense	0	[1]	3.3	[1]	3.8	[1]	9.8	[1]
Total
Revenues:
Total revenues	1,110.3		907.3		3,109.3		2,799.0
Total | Leasing Group
Revenues:
Total revenues	150.6		159.9		454.6		496.4
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	74.0		85.1		211.3		228.0
Interest:
Interest expense	$ 37.3	[1]	$ 42.6	[1]	$ 120.0	[1]	$ 128.2	[1]

[1] Depreciation, maintenance, and rent expense are components of operating profit. Amortization of deferred profit on railcars sold from the Rail Group to the Leasing Group is included in the operating profits of the Leasing Group resulting in the recognition of depreciation expense based on the Company's original manufacturing cost of the railcars. Interest expense is not a component of operating profit and includes the effect of hedges. Intercompany interest expense arises from Trinity’s previous ownership of a portion of TRIP Holdings’ Senior Secured Notes and is eliminated in consolidation. See Note 11 Debt.