Trading Arrangements, by Individual Trading Arrangements, by Individual [Table] Tax Year 2014 Tax Year 2014 [Member] Cash payout Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Share-Based Liabilities Paid Equity accounted investments AOCI, Equity Method Investment, Parent [Member] Weighted-average number of shares (millions) (Note 6) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Trading Arrangement: Trading Arrangement [Axis] Maximum Maximum [Member] Statistical Measurement [Domain] Statistical Measurement [Domain] Title of 12(b) Security Title of 12(b) Security Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus 3.125% 10-Year Notes 3.125% 10-Year Notes [Member] 3.125% 10-Year Notes Acquisition-related costs Business Combination, Acquisition-Related Cost, Expense Weighted average interest rate Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate Adjustment to Compensation, Amount Adjustment to Compensation Amount Share capital Common Stock, Value, Issued Pension and other benefits Retirement Benefits [Text Block] Net issuance (repayment) of commercial paper (Note 9) Proceeds from (Repayments of) Commercial Paper Line of Credit Line of Credit [Member] Restatement Determination Date Restatement Determination Date Expected return on plan assets Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return (Loss) on Plan Assets Allowance for credit losses Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss Current income tax expense Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Equity method investments, Gross sale amount Equity Method Investments, Gross Sale Amount Equity Method Investments, Gross Sale Amount Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Proceeds from sale of equity investment (Note 4) Proceeds from sale of equity investment Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments Current liabilities Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Weighted-average price per share (CAD per share) Shares Acquired, Average Cost Per Share Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding March 2025 Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) March 2025 Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) [Member] March 2025 Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) Long-term debt, excluding commercial paper Debt and finance lease liabilities, excluding Commercial paper Debt and finance lease liabilities, excluding Commercial paper Panama Canal Railway Company Panama Canal Railway Company [Member] Panama Canal Railway Company Change in pension and post-retirement defined benefit plans Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Reclassification Adjustment, before Tax Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] Entity Address, State or Province Entity Address, State or Province Number of plaintiffs Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs Number of options issued (in shares) Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross PEO Total Compensation Amount PEO Total Compensation Amount Reimbursement for settlement paid by consignee Reimbursement for settlement paid by consignee [Member] Reimbursement for settlement paid by consignee under the Plans Exchange [Domain] Exchange [Domain] Intangible assets Intangible Asset, Excluding Goodwill, after Accumulated Amortization Share Repurchase Program [Domain] Share Repurchase Program [Domain] Basic (in shares) Weighted-average basic shares outstanding (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche One Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Tranche One [Member] Retirement Benefits [Abstract] Retirement Benefits [Abstract] Outstanding Aggregate Erroneous Compensation Amount Outstanding Aggregate Erroneous Compensation Amount Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Entity Address, City or Town Entity Address, City or Town Issuance of long-term debt, excluding commercial paper (Note 9) Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt and Capital Securities, Net Units issued (in shares) Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items] Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] Equipment rents Equipment Rents Rent paid for freight cars owned by other railroads or private companies, net of rents received, including lease expenses primarily for locomotives, railcars, containers and trailers, office and other rentals. 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Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activity, Including Discontinued Operation Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax Shareholders’ equity Equity, Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Income Statement [Abstract] Income Statement [Abstract] PSUs and PDSUs PSUs and PDSUs [Member] Performance Share Units and Performance Deferred Share Units [Member] Document Transition Report Document Transition Report TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE [Member] Schedule of Investments [Line Items] Schedule of Investments [Line Items] Investment, Name [Axis] Investment, Name [Axis] Share Repurchase Program [Table] Share Repurchase Program [Table] Operating expenses Operating Expenses [Abstract] Non-freight excluding leasing revenues Non-freight excluding leasing revenues [Member] Non-freight excluding leasing revenues [Member] Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member] City 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NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. 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[Axis] Insider Trading Arrangements [Line Items] Repayment of long-term debt, excluding commercial paper (Note 9) Repayment of Long-Term Debt, Long-Term Lease Obligation, and Capital Security Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Axis] Named Executive Officers, Footnote Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] Accounts receivable, net (Note 8) Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current Stock options grant date fair value Shares Granted, Value, Share-Based Payment Arrangement, before Forfeiture Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Product and Service [Axis] Product and Service [Axis] Aggregate Change in Present Value of Accumulated Benefit for All Pension Plans Reported in Summary Compensation Table Aggregate Change in Present Value of Accumulated Benefit for All Pension Plans Reported in Summary Compensation Table [Member] Awards Close in Time to MNPI Disclosures Awards Close in Time to MNPI Disclosures [Table] Term for expected payments to be made Expected Time Period For Payment Of Provision For Environmental Remediation Expected time period for payment of Provision for environmental remediation. Pensions Pension Plan [Member] Intermodal Intermodal [Member] Intermodal Share capital Common Stock [Member] Income Tax Authority, Name [Axis] Income Tax Authority, Name [Axis] Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE [Member] Cover [Abstract] Cover [Abstract] Proceeds from sale of properties and other assets Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets Equity Awards Adjustments Equity Awards Adjustments [Member] Hedging Relationship [Domain] Hedging Relationship [Domain] Total liabilities and equity Liabilities and Equity Stock Options Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] Non-controlling interest Equity, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Additional 402(v) Disclosure Additional 402(v) Disclosure [Text Block] Schedule of Accounts Receivable, Net Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block] Income Tax Authority [Domain] Income Tax Jurisdiction [Domain] Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development and Environment [Member] Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development and Environment [Member] Tabular List, Table Tabular List [Table Text Block] Vesting [Axis] Vesting [Axis] Other (income) expense Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total shareholders’ equity Parent [Member] Name Awards Close in Time to MNPI Disclosures, Individual Name Entity Address, Country Entity Address, Country Amount of fund to be distributed Amount of Fund to be Distributed Amount of fund to be distributed to those claiming derailment damages. Year-end Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Covered Year that are Outstanding and Unvested Year-end Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Covered Year that are Outstanding and Unvested [Member] Adjustment to Compensation: Adjustment to Compensation [Axis] Number of subrogated insurer claims Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number Amounts reclassified from AOCI Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax Share Repurchase Program [Axis] Share Repurchase Program [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Net Periodic Benefit Cost for Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Other Benefits Schedule of Costs of Retirement Plans [Table Text Block] Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated [Flag] Aggregate Erroneous Compensation Amount Aggregate Erroneous Compensation Amount Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Interest paid Interest Paid, Excluding Capitalized Interest, Operating Activity Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Repayment of note Extinguishment of Debt, Amount Automotive Automotive [Member] Automotive Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Axis] Aggregate Available Trading Arrangement, Securities Aggregate Available Amount Breach of contract Breach of contract [Member] Breach of contract Long-term debt (Note 9, 10) Long-Term Debt and Lease Obligation Income Tax Authority [Axis] Income Tax Jurisdiction [Axis] Name Measure Name Income taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Net gain (loss) in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of hedging activities Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, before Tax Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Line Items] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Pay vs Performance Disclosure Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] Change in derivatives designated as cash flow hedges Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), after Reclassification, before Tax Retirement Plan Type [Domain] Retirement Plan Type [Domain] Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Name Trading Arrangement, Individual Name Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalent Options issued, weighted average price per share (In cad per share) Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Issued, Weighted Average Price Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Issued, Weighted Average Price Cash payout of associated shares (in shares) Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Share-Based Liabilities Paid, Associated Shares Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Share-Based Liabilities Paid, Associated Shares Company Selected Measure Amount Company Selected Measure Amount Tax Period [Domain] Tax Period [Domain] Commercial Paper Program Commercial Paper Program [Member] Commercial Paper Program Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Shares issued under stock option plan (shares) Shares Issued, Shares, Share-Based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture Net income Net income Net income Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Current assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Non-PEO NEO Non-PEO NEO [Member] Senior Notes Senior Notes [Member] Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, Address Line One Income tax expense (Note 5) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Effective tax rate, excluding discrete items Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Estimated Rate, Excluding Discrete Items, Percent Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Estimated Rate, Excluding Discrete Items, Percent Award Timing Method Award Timing Method [Text Block] Loss Contingency, Nature [Domain] Loss Contingency, Nature [Domain] Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash, Cash Equivalent, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalent, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect and Discontinued Operation Forgone Recovery, Explanation of Impracticability Forgone Recovery, Explanation of Impracticability [Text Block] Recognized net actuarial (gain) loss Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gain (Loss) Accounting changes Accounting Standards Update and Change in Accounting Principle [Text Block] Fuel Fuel Costs Net income attributable to controlling shareholders Net income attributable to controlling shareholders Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-Term Debt, Type [Axis] Erroneous Compensation Analysis Erroneous Compensation Analysis [Text Block] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Restatement Determination Date: Restatement Determination Date [Axis] Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Additional Subrogated Insurers Additional Insurer Claimants [Member] Additional Insurer Claimants [Member] 5.50% 30-year Note 5.50% 30-year Note [Member] 5.50% 30-year Note Net issuance (repayment) of short-term borrowings (Note 9) Proceeds from (Repayments of) Lines of Credit Non-freight Non-Freight [Member] Revenues not obtained through freight, including passenger revenues, switching fees, revenues from logistic services, as well as leasing revenues. Changes in non-cash working capital balances related to operations Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net Revenues (Note 3) Revenues [Abstract] Value of damages sought Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value Pension Benefits Adjustments, Footnote Pension Benefits Adjustments, Footnote [Text Block] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]