Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues	$ 1,256.0	$ 1,110.3	$ 1,066.1	$ 932.9	$ 1,012.9	$ 907.3	$ 995.5	$ 896.2	$ 4,365.3		$ 3,811.9		$ 2,938.3
Operating Profit (Loss)	224.4	205.6	183.4	159.5	158.9	140.7	152.5	122.7	772.9		574.8		426.8
Assets	7,313.4				6,642.0				7,313.4		6,642.0		6,088.5
Depreciation & Amortization									211.5		193.7		187.7
Capital Expenditures									731.0		469.2		335.6
Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									2,093.5		1,512.1		931.7
Operating Profit (Loss)									489.7		199.0		77.3
Assets	1,063.9				916.2				1,063.9		916.2		684.6
Depreciation & Amortization									27.2		21.8		23.9
Capital Expenditures									42.4		47.8		11.4
Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									508.6		461.2		440.4
Operating Profit (Loss)									52.6		44.8		54.9
Assets	459.9				415.2				459.9		415.2		370.7
Depreciation & Amortization									20.9		16.6		15.5
Capital Expenditures									17.1		15.7		7.7
Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									576.6		675.2		548.5
Operating Profit (Loss)									96.0		124.7		106.4
Assets	170.3				154.4				170.3		154.4		189.2
Depreciation & Amortization									8.1		7.6		6.4
Capital Expenditures									18.4		15.0		38.0
Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									536.5		506.0		454.8
Operating Profit (Loss)									61.4		18.2		8.9
Assets	364.3				400.1				364.3		400.1		392.9
Depreciation & Amortization									18.2		19.0		18.4
Capital Expenditures									41.5		25.2		10.4
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									645.4		644.4		551.4
Operating Profit (Loss)									296.8		300.9		254.5
Assets	5,026.9				4,538.8				5,026.9		4,538.8		4,462.1
Depreciation & Amortization									129.0	[1]	120.5	[1]	115.7	[1]
Capital Expenditures									581.1		352.6		258.6
All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									4.7		13.0		11.5
Operating Profit (Loss)									(13.7)		(10.2)		(3.8)
Assets	49.8				30.9				49.8		30.9		30.5
Depreciation & Amortization									3.7		4.4		4.4
Capital Expenditures									4.4		6.6		4.0
Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									4,365.3		3,811.9		2,938.3
Operating Profit (Loss)									982.8		677.4		498.2
Assets	7,135.1				6,455.6				7,135.1		6,455.6		6,130.0
Depreciation & Amortization									207.1		189.9		184.3
Capital Expenditures									704.9		462.9		330.1
Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									0		0		0
Operating Profit (Loss)									(73.4)		(51.5)		(43.6)
Assets	731.0				744.9				731.0		744.9		512.9
Depreciation & Amortization									4.5		3.9		3.6
Capital Expenditures									26.1		6.3		5.5
Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									0		0		0
Operating Profit (Loss)									(135.4)		(50.8)		(28.3)
Assets	(549.7)				(446.2)				(549.7)		(446.2)		(440.3)
Depreciation & Amortization									0		0		0
Capital Expenditures									0		0		0
Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									0		0		0
Operating Profit (Loss)									(1.1)		(0.3)		0.5
Assets	(3.0)				(112.3)				(3.0)		(112.3)		(114.1)
Depreciation & Amortization									(0.1)		(0.1)		(0.2)
Capital Expenditures									0		0		0
Intersegment
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									0		0		0
Intersegment | Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									774.0		500.9		343.0
Intersegment | Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									16.4		22.5		12.9
Intersegment | Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									0.1		0		0
Intersegment | Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									128.9		52.6		18.0
Intersegment | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									0		2.7		0.6
Intersegment | All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									81.9		68.4		50.3
Intersegment | Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									1,001.3		647.1		424.8
Intersegment | Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									0		0		0
Intersegment | Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									(756.5)		(485.9)		(325.5)
Intersegment | Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									(244.8)		(161.2)		(99.3)
Total
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									4,365.3		3,811.9		2,938.3
Total | Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									2,867.5		2,013.0		1,274.7
Total | Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									525.0		483.7		453.3
Total | Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									576.7		675.2		548.5
Total | Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									665.4		558.6		472.8
Total | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									645.4		647.1		552.0
Operating Profit (Loss)									296.8		300.9		254.5
Total | All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									86.6		81.4		61.8
Total | Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									5,366.6		4,459.0		3,363.1
Total | Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									0		0		0
Total | Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									(756.5)		(485.9)		(325.5)
Total | Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues									$ (244.8)		$ (161.2)		$ (99.3)

[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.