Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
OPERATING REVENUES	$ 1,569,011,000	$ 874,916,000	$ 829,096,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Labor and benefits	441,318,000	257,618,000	236,152,000
Equipment rents	77,825,000	37,322,000	43,885,000
Purchased services	120,871,000	80,572,000	78,741,000
Depreciation and amortization	141,644,000	73,405,000	66,481,000
Diesel fuel used in operations	147,172,000	88,399,000	88,499,000
Diesel fuel sold to third parties	368,000	11,322,000	16,986,000
Casualties and insurance	40,781,000	24,858,000	22,469,000
Materials	78,243,000	25,240,000	26,419,000
Trackage rights	50,911,000	28,250,000	23,066,000
Net (gain)/loss on sale and impairment of assets	(4,677,000)	(11,225,000)	(5,660,000)
Gain on insurance recoveries	(1,465,000)	(5,760,000)	(1,061,000)
Other expenses	78,797,000	44,549,000	41,340,000
RailAmerica acquisition-related costs	360,000	18,592,000	0
RailAmerica integration costs	16,675,000	11,452,000	0
Total operating expenses	1,188,823,000	684,594,000	637,317,000
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	380,188,000	190,322,000	191,779,000
Gain on sale of investments	0	0	907,000
Interest income	3,971,000	3,725,000	3,243,000
Interest expense	(67,894,000)	(62,845,000)	(38,617,000)
Contingent forward sale contract mark-to-market expense	0	(50,106,000)	0
Other income, net	2,122,000	2,182,000	703,000
Income before income taxes and income from equity investment	318,387,000	83,278,000	158,015,000
Provision for income taxes	(46,296,000)	(46,402,000)	(38,531,000)
Income from equity investment in RailAmerica, net	0	15,557,000	0
Net income	272,091,000	52,433,000	119,484,000
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	795,000	0	0
Less: Series A-1 Preferred Stock dividend	2,139,000	4,375,000	0
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 269,157,000	$ 48,058,000	$ 119,484,000
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders	$ 5.00	$ 1.13	$ 2.99
Weighted average shares—Basic	53,788	42,693	39,912
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders	$ 4.79	$ 1.02	$ 2.79
Weighted average shares—Diluted	56,679	51,316	42,772