Employee Benefit Programs	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAMS: [Abstract]
Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans	EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAMS: Employee Bonus Programs The Company has performance-based bonus programs that include a majority of non-union employees. Approximately $10.7 million, $13.7 million and $7.8 million were awarded under the various performance-based bonus plans in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. Defined Contribution Plans Under the Genesee & Wyoming Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, the Company matches participants’ contributions up to 4% of the participants’ salary on a pre-tax basis. The Company’s contributions to the plan in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were approximately $1.7 million, $1.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The Company’s Canadian subsidiaries administer two different retirement benefit plans. Both plans qualify under Section 146 of the federal and provincial income tax law and are Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP). Under each plan employees may elect to contribute a certain percentage of their salary on a pre-tax basis. Under the first plan, the Company matches 5% of gross salary up to a maximum of C$2,500 (or $2,449 at the December 31, 2011 exchange rate). Under the second plan, the Company matches 50% of the employee’s contribution up to a maximum of 4% of gross salary. Company contributions to the plans in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, were approximately $0.6 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The Company’s Australian subsidiary administers a statutory retirement benefit plan. The Company is required to contribute the equivalent of 9% of an employee’s base salary into a registered superannuation fund. Employees may elect to make additional contributions either before or after tax. Company contributions were approximately $2.8 million, $2.2 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively. Defined Benefit Plans The Company administers two noncontributory defined benefit plans for union and non-union employees of two United States subsidiaries. Benefits are determined based on a fixed amount per year of credited service. The Company’s funding policy requires contributions for pension benefits based on actuarial computations which reflect the long-term nature of the plans. The Company has met the minimum funding requirements according to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company froze the pension benefits of the remaining eligible employees (Frozen Participants) under its defined benefit plans. As a result, new employees are not eligible to participate in the plans. Future earnings of the Frozen Participants are not considered in the computation of benefits. As of December 31, 2011, the total recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet for these plans consisted of a $0.1 million pension liability and $(0.4) million in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss). The Company provides health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired employees, including union employees of one of the Company’s United States subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2011, 24 employees were participating and nine current employees may become eligible for these benefits upon retirement if certain combinations of age and years of service requirements are met. The Company funds the plan on a pay-as-you-go basis. As of December 31, 2011, the total recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet for this plan consisted of a $3.6 million postretirement benefit liability and $0.4 million in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss).

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAMS:

Employee Bonus Programs

The Company has performance-based bonus programs that include a majority of non-union employees. Approximately $10.7 million, $13.7 million and $7.8 million were awarded under the various performance-based bonus plans in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively.

Defined Contribution Plans

Under the Genesee & Wyoming Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, the Company matches participants’ contributions up to 4% of the participants’ salary on a pre-tax basis. The Company’s contributions to the plan in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were approximately $1.7 million, $1.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

The Company’s Canadian subsidiaries administer two different retirement benefit plans. Both plans qualify under Section 146 of the federal and provincial income tax law and are Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP). Under each plan employees may elect to contribute a certain percentage of their salary on a pre-tax basis. Under the first plan, the Company matches 5% of gross salary up to a maximum of C$2,500 (or $2,449 at the December 31, 2011 exchange rate). Under the second plan, the Company matches 50% of the employee’s contribution up to a maximum of 4% of gross salary. Company contributions to the plans in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, were approximately $0.6 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

The Company’s Australian subsidiary administers a statutory retirement benefit plan. The Company is required to contribute the equivalent of 9% of an employee’s base salary into a registered superannuation fund. Employees may elect to make additional contributions either before or after tax. Company contributions were approximately $2.8 million, $2.2 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively.

Defined Benefit Plans

The Company administers two noncontributory defined benefit plans for union and non-union employees of two United States subsidiaries. Benefits are determined based on a fixed amount per year of credited service. The Company’s funding policy requires contributions for pension benefits based on actuarial computations which reflect the long-term nature of the plans. The Company has met the minimum funding requirements according to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company froze the pension benefits of the remaining eligible employees (Frozen Participants) under its defined benefit plans. As a result, new employees are not eligible to participate in the plans. Future earnings of the Frozen Participants are not considered in the computation of benefits. As of December 31, 2011, the total recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet for these plans consisted of a $0.1 million pension liability and $(0.4) million in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss).

The Company provides health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired employees, including union employees of one of the Company’s United States subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2011, 24 employees were participating and nine current employees may become eligible for these benefits upon retirement if certain combinations of age and years of service requirements are met. The Company funds the plan on a pay-as-you-go basis. As of December 31, 2011, the total recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet for this plan consisted of a $3.6 million postretirement benefit liability and $0.4 million in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss).