Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 31,954,000	$ 64,772,000
Accounts receivable, net	313,282,000	262,949,000
Materials and supplies	31,256,000	32,389,000
Prepaid expenses and other	63,690,000	33,586,000
Deferred income tax assets, net	72,037,000	71,556,000
Total current assets	512,219,000	465,252,000
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	3,424,680,000	3,396,295,000
GOODWILL	635,531,000	634,953,000
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	620,750,000	670,206,000
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSETS, net	2,494,000	2,396,000
OTHER ASSETS, net	77,052,000	57,013,000
Total assets	5,272,726,000	5,226,115,000
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt	81,128,000	87,569,000
Accounts payable	220,518,000	232,121,000
Accrued expenses	115,313,000	93,971,000
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	1,077,000	3,083,000
Total current liabilities	418,036,000	416,744,000
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion	1,586,188,000	1,770,566,000
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, net	850,576,000	862,734,000
DEFERRED ITEMS - grants from outside parties	256,987,000	228,579,000
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	56,947,000	47,506,000
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	0	0
SERIES A-1 PREFERRED STOCK	0	399,524,000
EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital	1,298,322,000	866,609,000
Retained earnings	1,000,607,000	789,727,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income	23,145,000	47,271,000
Treasury stock, at cost	(220,207,000)	(209,266,000)
Total Genesee & Wyoming Inc. stockholders’ equity	2,102,528,000	1,494,937,000
Noncontrolling interest	1,464,000	5,525,000
Total equity	2,103,992,000	1,500,462,000
Total liabilities and equity	5,272,726,000	5,226,115,000
Class A common shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Common stock	645,000	579,000
Class B common shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Common stock	$ 16,000	$ 17,000