Business and Customers

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

BUSINESS AND CUSTOMERS: [Abstract]

Business Description and Basis of Presentation

BUSINESS AND CUSTOMERS:

Unless the context otherwise requires, when used in these financial statements, the terms “Genesee & Wyoming,” “G&W” and the “Company” refer to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and its subsidiaries, including RailAmerica, Inc. and its subsidiaries (RailAmerica). G&W acquired RailAmerica on October 1, 2012. However, the shares of RailAmerica were held in a voting trust while the United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) considered the Company's control application, which application was approved with an effective date of December 28, 2012. Accordingly, the Company accounted for the earnings of RailAmerica using the equity method of accounting while the shares were held in the voting trust and the Company's preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities is included in its consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2012. All references to currency amounts included in these financial statements are in United States dollars unless specifically noted otherwise.

The Company owns and operates short line and regional railroads in the United States, Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, the Company operates the 1,400 mile Tarcoola to Darwin rail line, which links the Port of Darwin with the Australian interstate rail network in South Australia. Operations currently include 111 railroads organized into 11 regions, with approximately 14,700 miles of owned and leased track, approximately 4,600 employees and over 2,000 customers. The Company provides rail service at 35 ports in North America, Australia and Europe and performs contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. See Note 3, Changes in Operations, for descriptions of the Company’s changes in operations in recent years.

The Company's railroads transport a wide variety of commodities. Freight revenues from the Company’s 10 largest freight customers accounted for approximately 25%, 24% and 22% of the Company’s operating revenues in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.