Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 18,792	$ 62,876
Accounts receivable, net	348,909	325,453
Materials and supplies	34,147	31,295
Prepaid expenses and other	45,984	52,584
Deferred income tax assets, net	61,567	76,122
Total current assets	509,399	548,330
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	3,775,127	3,440,744
GOODWILL	630,342	630,462
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	594,796	613,933
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSETS, net	2,591	2,405
OTHER ASSETS, net	53,454	83,947
Total assets	5,565,709	5,319,821
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt	39,473	84,366
Accounts payable	265,716	242,010
Accrued expenses	121,334	130,132
Total current liabilities	426,523	456,508
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion	1,601,303	1,540,346
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, net	896,171	863,051
DEFERRED ITEMS - grants from outside parties	296,475	267,098
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	40,968	43,748
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital	1,326,618	1,302,521
Retained earnings	1,232,266	1,058,884
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income	(31,721)	6,089
Treasury stock, at cost	(224,423)	(220,361)
Total Genesee & Wyoming Inc. stockholders' equity	2,303,406	2,147,795
Noncontrolling interest	863	1,275
Total equity	2,304,269	2,149,070
Total liabilities and equity	5,565,709	5,319,821
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, one vote per share; 180,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013; 65,516,757 and 64,584,102 shares issued and 52,824,345 and 51,934,137 shares outstanding (net of 12,692,412 and 12,649,965 shares in treasury) on September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
EQUITY:
Common Stock	655	646
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, ten votes per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013; 1,053,985 and 1,608,989 shares issued and outstanding on September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
EQUITY:
Common Stock	$ 11	$ 16