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Depreciation Expense Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization [Policy Text Block] Current Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Equity Defined Benefit Plan, Equity Securities, Non-US [Member] Comprehensive income attributable to Wabtec shareholders Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent 2023 Finance Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Year Three Dividend yield (as a percent) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Documents Incorporated by Reference Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block] Reconciliation of Income Tax Rate Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block] 2021 Long-Term Debt, Maturity, Year One Collateral Held [Axis] Collateral Held [Axis] Deductions 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Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Recognized in current year Contract With Customer Asset New Contract Additions Contract With Customer Asset New Contract Additions Total deferred income tax liabilities Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross 2021 Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payment, Year One Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Number of reportable segments Number of Reportable Segments Retirement Plan Type [Domain] Retirement Plan Type [Domain] 2018 Refinancing Credit Agreement Two Thousand and Eighteen Refinancing Agreement [Member] Two Thousand and Eighteen Refinancing Agreement [Member] Exercise Price Range Exercise Price Range [Axis] Charged/ (credited) to expense SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Additions, Charge to Cost and Expense Collections reinvested under revolving agreement Repayments of Accounts Receivable Securitization Effective interest rate (as a 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Percentage of outstanding shares transferred Business Combination, Percentage of Outstanding Shares Transferred Business Combination, Percentage of Outstanding Shares Transferred Document Transition Report Document Transition Report Tax benefits related to stock-based compensation plans Share-based Payment Arrangement, Exercise of Option, Tax Benefit Other noncurrent liabilities Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Other 2024 Lessee, Operating and Finance Lease, Liability, Total Payments, Due Year Four Lessee, Operating and Finance Lease, Liability, Total Payments, Due Year Four Derivative asset fair value Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Other income and expenses: Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Amortization or curtailment recognition of prior service cost Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, Prior Service Cost (Credit), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, after Tax Level 2 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Defined Benefit Plans And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items] Defined Benefit Plans And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items] Defined Benefit Plans And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [ Line Items ] Under $35.00 Exercise Price Range One [Member] Exercise Price Range One. Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent SpinCo Class A Preferred Stock SpinCo Class A Preferred Stock [Member] SpinCo Class A Preferred Stock [Member] Credit Facility Credit Facility [Domain] Deferred income tax assets: Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract] Litigation Case [Domain] Litigation Case [Domain] Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders (in dollars per share) Basic (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized that would affect effective tax rate Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate Expected life (years) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term Entity File Number Entity File Number Other current liabilities Other Current Liabilities [Member] Accrued postretirement and pension benefits Noncurrent liabilities Liability, Defined Benefit Plan, Noncurrent Operating leases Operating Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term Rate of compensation increase (as a percent) Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Rate of Compensation Increase Collateral Held [Domain] Collateral Held [Domain] Assets acquired Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets [Abstract] Net amount recognized Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts for Asset (Liability) Recognized in Statement of Financial Position Provisions for loss contracts Provision for Loss on Contracts Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range [Line Items] Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items] Disposals Goodwill, Disposals Goodwill, Disposals Prior service cost Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Prior Service Cost (Credit), before Tax Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense Foreign currency impact Contract with Customer Liability Increase (Decrease) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Contract with Customer Liability Increase (Decrease) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Document Annual Report Document Annual Report Proceeds from debt, net of issuance costs Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt and Capital Securities, Net Restricted Stock Activity and Incentive Stock Awards Activity Schedule Of Restricted Stock Activity And Incentive Stock Awards Activity Table [Table Text Block] Schedule of restricted stock activity and incentive stock awards activity. Non-controlling interest (acquired) assumed Noncontrolling Interest Assumed Noncontrolling Interest Assumed Exercisable, end of period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value 2024 Finance Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Year Four Retirement Benefits [Abstract] Retirement Benefits [Abstract] Amortization of initial net obligation and prior service cost Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Transition Obligations Assets And Prior Service Cost Credit Define benefit plan amortization of initial net obligation and prior service (credit) cost. Accrued liabilities and customer deposits Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities And Customer Deposits Increase decrease in accrued liabilities and customer deposits. Liability for Income Taxes Associated with Uncertain Tax Positions Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block] Debt Instrument [Table] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Granted (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table] Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table] Schedule Of Product Information [Table] Schedule of Product Information [Table] Foreign Exchange Forward Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] Schedule Of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table] Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table] Litigation Status [Axis] Litigation Status [Axis] Effect of exchange rates Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Effect Of Exchange Rates The effect of exchange rates on other comprehensive income related to defined benefit plans. Debt security funds and other Defined Benefit Plan, Debt Security [Member] Accounts receivable and unbilled accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Other Asia / Middle East Other Asia and Middle East [Member] Other Asia and Middle East Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other Accrued Liabilities Other Accrued Liabilities [Member] Other Accrued Liabilities Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Total Liabilities and Equity Liabilities and Equity Buildings and improvements Buildings and Improvements, Gross Loss Contingencies [Line Items] Loss Contingencies [Line Items] Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax INCOME TAXES Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Portion at Fair Value Measurement Portion at Fair Value Measurement [Member] Operating lease expense Operating Lease, Cost Gross decreases - expiration of audit statute of limitations Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Reduction Resulting from Lapse of Applicable Statute of Limitations Total liabilities assumed Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities Shares not included in computation of diluted earnings per share Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Current taxes Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit) GE Transportation GE Transportation [Member] GE Transportation [Member] Finance leases Finance Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Table] Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Table] Summary of significant accounting policies. Gross increases - unrecognized tax benefits in prior periods Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions Useful life (in years) Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life Equity Component Equity Component [Domain] Benefit Payments Expected to be Paid to Plan Participants Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block] Gross profit Gross Profit Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment, net Long-Lived Assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net EIN Entity Tax Identification Number Effect of currency rate changes Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block] Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders Net income attributable to Wabtec shareholders Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Denominator Earnings Per Share, Basic, Other Disclosures [Abstract] Acquisition Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Business Combination INVENTORIES Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Trade names Trade Names [Member] Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Operating expenses: Operating Expenses [Abstract] Retirement Plan Sponsor Location [Domain] Retirement Plan Sponsor Location [Domain] Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] Summary of significant accounting policies. Present value lease liabilities Finance Lease, Liability Other Europe Other Europe [Member] Other Europe Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] Options Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward] Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Tax and Reclassification Adjustment, Attributable to Parent Thereafter Finance Lease, Liability, to be Paid, after Year Five Noncurrent contract liabilities Contract with Customer, Liability, Noncurrent Granted (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Equity Defined Benefit Plan, Equity Securities, US [Member] Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items] Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type Long-Lived Tangible Asset [Domain] Allowance for doubtful accounts SEC Schedule, 12-09, Allowance, Credit Loss [Member] Benefits paid Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Benefits Paid Customer Contracts Customer Contracts [Member] Cash dividends Less: dividends declared - common shares and non-vested restricted stock Dividends, Cash Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Major Classes of Depreciable Assets Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] Reclassification Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table] Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table] Current Availability Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term [Abstract] Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term Fair value of plan assets Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plan with Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Plan Assets Accrued expenses and reserves Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Expenses And Reserves Accrued expenses and reserves component of deferred income tax asset. Net amount recognized Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, before Tax Total Total Payments Due [Abstract] Total Payments Due Allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts Receivable, Credit Loss Expense (Reversal) Less: accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Unbilled accounts receivables Contract with Customer, Asset, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current Right-of-use asset Deferred Tax Assets, Right-of-use Asset Deferred Tax Assets, Right-of-use Asset Net actuarial loss Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Gain (Loss), before Tax Maturity of Operating Lease Liabilities Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block] Basic (in shares) Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Number of countries where product found (more than) Number Of Countries Where Product Found Number of countries where product found. Risk-free interest rate (as a percent) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate Canceled (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Ownership [Axis] Ownership [Axis] Loss Contingencies [Table] Loss Contingencies [Table] Plan Name Plan Name [Domain] Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer CONTRACT ASSETS AND CONTRACT LIABILITIES Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block] Proceeds from treasury stock issued from the exercise of stock options and other benefit plans, net of tax, shares (in shares) Stock Granted Exercised And Cancelled For Various Equity Instruments Stock awards granted, exercised and cancelled for the following forms of stock compensation 1) Stock Options 2) Restricted Stock Awards and 3) Incentive Stock Awards. Actuarial loss Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Actuarial Gain (Loss) Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] Inventories Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income tax expense Total provision Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] Estimated Useful Lives of Property Plant and Equipment Schedule Of Estimated Useful Lives Of Property Plant And Equipment Table [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Estimated Useful Lives Of Property Plant And Equipment Table Local Phone Number Local Phone Number Acquisition payments Stock and cash paid Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross Pro Forma Financial Information Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Exercised Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value Derivative [Line Items] Derivative [Line Items] Exercise price, low range (in dollars per share) Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit Below market intangible amortization Amortization of Intangible Liability Amortization of Intangible Liability Balance at beginning of year Balance at end of year Contract with Customer, Liability 2022 Lessee, Operating and Finance Lease, Liability, Total Payments, Due Year Two Lessee, Operating and Finance Lease, Liability, Total Payments, Due Year Two VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS SEC Schedule, 12-09, Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Table] Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Table] Proceeds from treasury stock issued from the exercise of stock options and other benefit plans, net of tax Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Costs Recognized Under Defined Contribution Plans and Multiemployer Pension Plans Schedule Of Defined Contribution Plans And Multiemployer Pension Plans Table [Table Text Block] Schedule of defined contribution plans and multiemployer pension plans. Schedule Of Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Table] Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table] Convertible Preferred Stock Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Maximum borrowing capacity Maximum Availability Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 2023 Lessee, Operating and Finance Lease, Liability, Total Payments, Due Year Three Lessee, Operating and Finance Lease, Liability, Total Payments, Due Year Three Award Type Award Type [Axis] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract] Discount rate (as a percent) Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate Total other assets Other Assets Non Current Including Goodwill And Intangible Assets Net Other Non-Current Assets that includes Goodwill, Other Intangibles net, and Other noncurrent assets. Other noncurrent assets Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets Retained Earnings Retained Earnings [Member] Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Warranty reserve Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Warranty Reserves Measurement Basis [Axis] Measurement Basis [Axis] Payment of contingent consideration on acquisitions Payment for Contingent Consideration Liability, Financing Activities Components of Net Periodic Benefit Costs Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block] SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Net cash used for investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Pending Litigation Pending Litigation [Member] Outstanding (in years) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Equity Award Award Type [Domain] Current liabilities Liability, Defined Benefit Plan, Current Multi-Currency Revolving Loan Facility Multi-Currency Revolving Loan Facility [Member] Multi-Currency Revolving Loan Facility Exercisable, end of period (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price 2025 Lessee, Operating and Finance Lease, Liability, Total Payments, Due Year Five Lessee, Operating and Finance Lease, Liability, Total Payments, Due Year Five PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Litigation Status [Domain] Litigation Status [Domain] Treasury stock, at cost, 38.0 and 35.2 shares, at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively Treasury Stock, Value EARNINGS PER SHARE Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Defined Benefit Pension Plans Pension Plan [Member] Current Liabilities Liabilities, Current [Abstract] U.S. federal statutory rate Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent Financing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] 3.20% Senior Notes due 2028 3.2000 Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand and Twenty Five [Member] 3.2000 Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand and Twenty Five Transfers Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets Level 3 Reconciliation, Increase (Decrease) for Assets Transferred into (out of) Level 3 Accounting Standards Adopted in 2020 and Accounting Standards to be Adopted in Future Years New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Basic Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]