Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 33,032	$ 62,876
Accounts receivable, net	352,283	325,453
Materials and supplies	36,214	31,295
Prepaid expenses and other	45,113	52,584
Deferred income tax assets, net	68,031	76,122
Total current assets	534,673	548,330
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	3,778,487	3,440,744
GOODWILL	632,905	630,462
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	602,805	613,933
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSETS, net	3,007	2,405
OTHER ASSETS, net	58,491	83,947
Total assets	5,610,368	5,319,821
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt	31,099	84,366
Accounts payable	249,426	242,010
Accrued expenses	123,272	130,132
Total current liabilities	403,797	456,508
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion	1,731,939	1,540,346
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, net	882,616	863,051
DEFERRED ITEMS - grants from outside parties	283,537	267,098
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	40,797	43,748
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital	1,319,645	1,302,521
Retained earnings	1,159,616	1,058,884
Accumulated other comprehensive income	10,982	6,089
Treasury stock, at cost	(223,887)	(220,361)
Total Genesee & Wyoming Inc. stockholders' equity	2,267,021	2,147,795
Noncontrolling interest	661	1,275
Total equity	2,267,682	2,149,070
Total liabilities and equity	5,610,368	5,319,821
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, one vote per share; 180,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013; 65,403,360 and 64,584,102 shares issued and 52,716,419 and 51,934,137 shares outstanding (net of 12,686,941 and 12,649,965 shares in treasury) on June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
EQUITY:
Common Stock	654	646
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, ten votes per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013; 1,062,985 and 1,608,989 shares issued and outstanding on June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
EQUITY:
Common Stock	$ 11	$ 16