Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,485.3		$ 1,066.1	$ 2,945.8		$ 1,999.0
Proceeds from railcar lease fleet sales owned more than one year at the time of sale				242.1		39.1
Assets	8,014.1	[1]		8,014.1	[1]		7,313.4
Rail Group
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue	760.7		474.1	1,361.8		897.7
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue	225.4		169.6	667.6		304.0
Operating lease obligations guaranteed by Trinity Industries, Inc. and certain subsidiaries	19.8			19.8
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Wholly-owned subsidiaries
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Net book value of equipment pledged as collateral for leasing group debt	1,888.3			1,888.3
Net book value of equipment securing capital lease obligations	46.7			46.7
Net book value of unpledged equipment	462.5			462.5
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Net book value of equipment pledged as collateral for leasing group debt	1,419.7			1,419.7
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRL 2012
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Net book value of equipment pledged as collateral for leasing group debt	610.7			610.7
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Wholly-owned qualified subsidiaries for leasing railcars from the Trusts
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Period of railcars leased from the Trusts under operating leases (in years)				22 years
Assets	202.0			202.0
Cash	77.6			77.6
Railcars	84.8			84.8
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Minimum
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Term of lease contracts with third parties (in years)				1 year
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Maximum
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Term of lease contracts with third parties (in years)				20 years
Railcars owned one year or less at the time of sale | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue	70.8		18.9	363.7		19.0
Element
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Proceeds from the sale of leased railcars				635.7
Proceeds from railcar lease fleet sales owned more than one year at the time of sale				222.7
Element | Rail Group
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue				81.6
Element | Railcars owned one year or less at the time of sale | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue				$ 331.4

[1] (unaudited)