Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Parent Company [Member] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) [Abstract] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Railway operating revenues Railway operating revenues Revenues, Total Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Income (Loss) before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract] Income (Loss) before Extraordinary Items and Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract] Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Cost of Revenue [Abstract] Cost of Goods and Services Sold [Abstract] Cost of Services [Abstract] Railway operating expenses: Compensation and benefits Labor and Related Expense, Total The amount of expense for contract services provided to the Company and rent paid for frieght cars owned by other railroads or private companies net of rents received, including lease expenses, primarily for locomotives, railcars, containers, and trailers. Purchased services and rents Fuel Cost Of Services Depreciation Depreciation Materials and other operating expenses not separately disclosed. This element is used when other, more specific, elements are not appropriate. Materials and other Materials and other Operating Expenses Total railway operating expenses Income from railway operations Income from railway operations Other Nonoperating Income Expense Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total Other income, net Other income - net Interest expense on debt Interest expense on debt Sum of operating profit (loss) and non-operating income (expense) before income taxes. Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Provision for income taxes Provision for income taxes Provision for income taxes Net income Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Total Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic, Total Earnings Per Share (Unaudited) [Abstract] Per share amounts Basic Basic Basic Diluted Diluted Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid Dividends Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) [Abstract] Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) [Abstract] Assets Abstract Assets Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Short-term investments Short-term Investments, Total Accounts receivable - net Accounts receivable, net Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of unapplied materials and supplies to be used in the performance or support of carrier operations. Materials and supplies Deferred Tax Assets Net Current Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Other current assets Other current assets Total current assets Total current assets Long Term Investments Investments Long-term Investments, Total Properties less accumulated depreciation Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Other assets Assets Total assets Liabilities and stockholders' equity [Abstract] Liabilities and stockholders' equity Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Short-term debt Short-term Borrowings, Total Income and other taxes Taxes Payable, Current, Total Other Liabilities Current Other current liabilities Other Liabilities, Current, Total Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current Current maturities of long-term debt Current maturities of long-term debt Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Long-term debt Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Total Other Liabilities Noncurrent Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Other liabilities Other liabilities Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes Liabilities Total liabilities Stockholders' equity: Common stock $1.00 per share par value, 1,350,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding 367,893,915 and 366,233,106 shares, respectively, net of treasury shares Common stock $1.00 per share par value, 1,350,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding 370,055,972 and 369,019,990 shares, respectively, net of treasury shares Additional Paid In Capital Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of TaxAccumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained income Retained income Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Balance Balance Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, net of treasury shares Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation Depreciation, Total Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), TotalDeferred income taxes Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Gains and losses on properties Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property, Total Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract] Changes in assets and liabilities affecting operations: Accounts receivable The net change during the reporting period in the aggregate value of all materials and supplies held by the reporting entity, associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities. increase (decrease) in Materials and supplies Materials and supplies Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets' have the same label Other current assets Current liabilities other than debt The net cash inflow (outflow) from other operating activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy. Other, net Other, net Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities Property additions Property additions Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Property sales and other transactions Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Investments, including short-term Investments, including short-term Payments to Acquire Investments, Total Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Investment sales and other transactions Investment sales and other transactions Investment sales and other transactions Net Cash Used in Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities Payments Of Dividends Dividends Dividends Payments of Dividends, Total Common stock issued - net Common stock issued, net Proceeds from borrowings Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Repayments of Long-term Debt Debt repayments Debt repayments Debt repayments Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value At end of period At beginning of year Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Interest (net of amounts capitalized) Interest Paid, Net, Total Income taxes (net of refunds) Income Taxes Paid, Net, Total Stock Based Compensation (Unauddited) [Abstract] Stock Based Compensation (Unauddited) [Abstract] Stock Based Compensation Abstract StockBasedCompensationAbstract Stock-Based Compensation Income Taxes (Unaudited) [Abstract] Income Taxes (Unaudited) [Abstract] Income Taxes Earnings Per Share Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Stock Repurchase Program (Unaudited) [Abstract] Stock Repurchase Program (Unaudited) [Abstract] This element is used to disclose the repurchase of common stock through the company's repurchase program Stock Repurchase Program Stock Repurchase Program Investments (Unaudited) [Abstract] Investments Long-term Debt (Unaudited) [Abstract] Debt (Unaudited) [Abstract] Debt Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Unaudited) [Abstract] Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Unaudited) [Abstract] Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) [Abstract] Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) [Abstract] Comprehensive Income Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Unaudited) [Abstract] Fair Value (Unaudited) [Abstract] Fair Value Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited) [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited) [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Other Income - Net (Unaudited) [Abstract] Other Income - Net (Unaudited) [Abstract] Properties (Unaudited) [Abstract] Properties (Unaudited) [Abstract] Current Liabilities (Unaudited)[Abstract] Current Liabilities (Unaudited)[Abstract] Lease Commitments (Unaudited) [Abstract] Lease Commitments (Unaudited) [Abstract] Other Liabilities (Unaudited) [Abstract] Other Liabilities (Unaudited) [Abstract] Derivative Financial Instruments (Unaudited) [Abstract] Derivative Financial Instruments (Unaudited) [Abstract] Scenario, Actual [Member]