Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Total weighted average restricted shares and antidilutive stock options (in shares)	6.2	6.3
Computation of basic and diluted net income attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc
Net income attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc.	$ 46.0	$ 97.2
Unvested restricted share participation	(1.2)	(2.9)
Net income attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc. – basic	$ 44.8	$ 94.3
Net income attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc. - basic, Average Shares (in shares)	148.7	148.3
Net income attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc. - basic, EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.64
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible subordinated notes, Income (Loss)	$ 0.0	$ 0.0
Convertible subordinated notes, Average Shares	1.9	0.0
Net income attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc. – diluted	$ 44.8	$ 94.3
Net income attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc. - diluted, Average Shares	150.6	148.3
Net income attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc. - diluted, EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.64