Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation Policy

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements presented herein include the accounts of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and its subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) as codified in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition Policy

Revenue Recognition

Railroad revenues are estimated and recognized as shipments initially move onto the Company's tracks, which, due to the relatively short duration of haul, is not materially different from the recognition of revenues as shipments progress. Industrial switching and other service revenues are recognized as such services are provided.

Cash and Cash Equivalents Policy

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Materials and Supplies Policy

Materials and Supplies

Materials and supplies consist primarily of purchased items for improvement and maintenance of road property and equipment and are stated at the lower of average cost or market. Materials and supplies are removed from inventory using the average cost method.

Business Combinations Policy

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for businesses it acquires using the acquisition method of accounting. Under this method, all acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. The Company records the underlying net assets at their respective acquisition-date fair values. As part of this process, the Company identifies and attributes values and estimated lives to property and equipment and intangible assets acquired. These determinations involve significant estimates and assumptions, including those with respect to future cash flows, discount rates and asset lives, and therefore require considerable judgment. These determinations affect the amount of depreciation and amortization expense recognized in future periods. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the consolidated statements of operations beginning on the respective business's acquisition date.

Property and Equipment Policy

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Major renewals or improvements to property and equipment are capitalized, while routine maintenance and repairs are expensed when incurred. The Company incurs maintenance and repair expenses to keep its operations safe and fit for existing purpose. Major renewals or improvements to property and equipment, however, are undertaken to extend the useful life or increase the functionality of the asset, or both. Other than a de minimis threshold under which costs are expensed as incurred, the Company does not apply pre-defined capitalization thresholds when assessing spending for classification among capital or expense.

Unlike the Class I railroads that operate over extensive contiguous rail networks, the Company's short line and regional railroads are generally geographically dispersed businesses that transport freight over relatively short distances. As a result, the Company typically incurs minimal spending on self-constructed assets and, instead, the vast majority of its capital spending relates to purchased assets installed by professional contractors. In addition, the Company generally does not incur significant rail grinding or ballast cleaning expenses. However, if and when such costs are incurred, they are expensed.

The Company depreciates its property and equipment using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the property and equipment. The following table sets forth the estimated useful lives of the Company's major classes of property and equipment:

	Estimated Useful Life (in Years)
Property:	Minimum	Maximum
Buildings and leasehold improvements (subject to term of lease)	2	40
Bridges/tunnels/culverts	20	50
Track property	5	50
Equipment:
Computer equipment	2	10
Locomotives and railcars	2	30
Vehicles and mobile equipment	2	10
Signals and crossing equipment	4	30
Track equipment	2	20
Other equipment	2	20

The Company reviews its long-lived tangible assets for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such assets may not be recoverable. When factors indicate that an asset or asset group may not be recoverable, the Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining life of such asset or asset group in measuring whether or not impairment has occurred. If impairment is identified, a loss would be reported to the extent that the carrying value of the related assets exceeds the fair value of those assets as determined by valuation techniques applicable in the circumstances. Losses from impairment of assets are charged to net (gain)/loss on sale and impairment of assets within operating expenses.

Gains or losses on sales, including sales of assets removed during track and equipment upgrade projects, or losses incurred through other dispositions, such as unanticipated retirement or destruction, are credited or charged to net (gain)/loss on sale and impairment of assets within operating expenses. Gains are recorded when realized if the sale value exceeds the remaining carrying value of the respective property and equipment. If the estimated salvage value is less than the remaining carrying value, the Company records the loss incurred equal to the respective asset's carrying value less salvage value. There were no material losses incurred through other dispositions from unanticipated or unusual events in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 or 2012.

Property and Equipment Useful Life [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth the estimated useful lives of the Company's major classes of property and equipment:

	Estimated Useful Life (in Years)
Property:	Minimum	Maximum
Buildings and leasehold improvements (subject to term of lease)	2	40
Bridges/tunnels/culverts	20	50
Track property	5	50
Equipment:
Computer equipment	2	10
Locomotives and railcars	2	30
Vehicles and mobile equipment	2	10
Signals and crossing equipment	4	30
Track equipment	2	20
Other equipment	2	20

Grants From Outside Parties Policy

Grants from Outside Parties

Grants from outside parties are recorded as deferred revenue within deferred items - grants from outside parties, and are amortized as a reduction to depreciation expense over the same period during which the associated assets are depreciated.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Policy

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

The Company reviews the carrying values of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives at least annually to assess impairment since these assets are not amortized. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The Company performs its annual impairment test as of November 30 of each year. No impairment was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, as a result of our annual impairment test. Additionally, the Company reviews the carrying value of any indefinite-lived intangible asset or goodwill whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. The determination of fair value involves significant management judgment including assumptions about operating results, business plans, income projections, anticipated future cash flows and market data. Impairments are expensed when incurred and are charged to net (gain)/loss on sale and impairment of assets within operating expenses.

Amortizable Intangible Assets Policy

Amortizable Intangible Assets

The Company performs an impairment test on amortizable intangible assets when specific impairment indicators are present. The Company has amortizable intangible assets valued primarily as service agreements, customer contracts or relationships and track access agreements. These intangible assets are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected economic longevity of the facility served, the customer relationship, or the length of the contract or agreement including expected renewals.

Derailment And Property Damages, Personal Injuries And Third-Party Claims Policy

Derailment and Property Damages, Personal Injuries and Third-Party Claims

The Company maintains liability and property insurance coverage to mitigate the financial risk of providing rail and rail-related services. Incidents involving entities previously owned by RailAmerica, Inc. (RailAmerica) that occurred prior to the Company's August 1, 2013 insurance renewal are insured under RailAmerica's legacy liability and property insurance policies. The Company's primary liability policies currently have self-insured retentions of up to $2.5 million per occurrence. RailAmerica's prior primary liability policies' self-insured retentions were as high as $4.0 million per occurrence. With respect to the transportation of hazardous commodities, the Company's liability policies cover third-party claims and damages associated with sudden releases of hazardous materials, including expenses related to evacuation, as a result of a railroad accident. Personal injuries associated with grade crossing accidents are also covered under the Company's liability policies. The Company's property policies cover property and equipment that the Company owns, and property in the Company's care, custody and control and have various self-insured retentions, which vary based on type and location of the incident, of up to $1.0 million per occurrence, except in Australia where the Company's self-insured retention for property damage due to a cyclone or flood is A$2.5 million. RailAmerica's property damage policies previously had self-insured retentions of up to $1.5 million per occurrence. The property policies also provide business interruption insurance arising from covered events.

Employees of the Company's United States railroads are covered by the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), a fault-based system under which claims resulting from injuries and deaths of railroad employees are settled by negotiation or litigation. FELA-related claims are covered under the Company's liability policies. Employees of the Company's industrial switching, transloading and railroad construction businesses are covered under workers' compensation policies.

Accruals for FELA claims by the Company's railroad employees and third-party personal injury or other claims are recorded in the period when such claims are determined to be probable and estimable. These estimates are updated in future periods as information develops.

Income Taxes Policy

Income Taxes

The Company files a consolidated United States federal income tax return, which includes all of its United States subsidiaries. Each of the Company's foreign subsidiaries files appropriate income tax returns in each of its respective countries. The provision for, or benefit from, income taxes includes deferred taxes resulting from temporary differences using a balance sheet approach. Such temporary differences result primarily from differences in the carrying value of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and tax purposes. Future realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent upon the Company's ability to generate sufficient taxable income. The Company evaluates on a quarterly basis whether, based on all available evidence, the deferred income tax assets will be realizable. Valuation allowances are established when it is estimated that it is more likely than not that the tax benefit of a deferred tax asset will not be realized

Stock-Based Compensation Policy

Stock-Based Compensation

The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (Compensation Committee) has discretion to determine grantees, grant dates, amounts of grants, vesting and expiration dates for stock-based compensation awarded to the Company's employees under the Company's Second Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Omnibus Plan). The Omnibus Plan permits the issuance of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and any other form of award established by the Compensation Committee, in each case consistent with the Omnibus Plan's purpose. Under the terms of the awards, equity grants for employees generally vest over three years and equity grants for directors vest over their respective remaining terms as directors.

The grant date fair value of non-vested shares, less estimated forfeitures, is recorded to compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model and straight-line amortization of compensation expense is recorded over the requisite service period of the grant. Two assumptions in the Black-Scholes pricing model require management judgment: the life of the option and the volatility of the stock over the life of the option. The assumption for the life of the option is based on historical experience and is estimated for each grant. The assumption for the volatility of the stock is based on a combination of historical and implied volatility. The fair value of the Company's restricted stock and restricted stock units is based on the closing market price of the Company's Class A Common Stock on the date of grant.The grant date fair value of performance-based restricted stock units is estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo simulation model and straight-line amortization of compensation expense is recorded over the requisite service period of the grant. Three assumptions in the Monte Carlo simulation model require management judgment: volatility of the Company's Class A Common Stock, volatility of the stock of the members of the two peer groups and the correlation coefficients between the Company's stock price and the stock price of the peer groups. Volatility is based on a combination of historical and implied volatility. The correlation coefficients are calculated based upon the historical price data used to calculate the volatilities.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Policy

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company applies the following three-level hierarchy of valuation inputs for measuring fair value:

• Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

• Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable market data.

• Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

Foreign Currency Policy

Foreign Currency

The consolidated financial statements of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are prepared in the local currency of the respective subsidiary and translated into United States dollars based on the exchange rate at the end of the period for balance sheet items and, for the statement of operations, at the average rate for the period. Currency translation adjustments are reflected within the equity section of the balance sheet and are included in other comprehensive income. Upon complete or substantially complete liquidation of the underlying investment in the foreign subsidiary, cumulative translation adjustments are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations

Management Estimates Policy

Management Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to use judgment and to make estimates and assumptions that affect business combinations, reported assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates using management judgment are made in the areas of recoverability and useful life of assets, as well as liabilities for casualty claims and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates

Risks and Uncertainties Policy

Risks and Uncertainties

Slower growth, an economic recession, or significant changes in commodity prices or regulation that affects the countries where the Company operates or their imports and exports, could negatively impact the Company's business. The Company is required to assess for potential impairment of non-current assets whenever events or changes in circumstances, including economic circumstances, indicate that the respective asset's carrying amount may not be recoverable. A decline in current macroeconomic or financial conditions could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity

Earnings Per Share Policy

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of two classes of common stock designated as Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to one vote and 10 votes per share, respectively. Each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock at any time at the option of the holder, subject to the provisions of the Class B Stockholders' Agreement dated as of May 20, 1996. In addition, pursuant to the Class B Stockholders' Agreement, certain transfers of the Class B Common Stock, including transfers to persons other than our executive officers, will result in automatic conversion of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock. Holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall have identical rights in the event of liquidation.

Dividends declared by the Company's Board of Directors are payable on the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or both Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as determined by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors declares a dividend on both classes of stock, then the holder of each share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to receive a dividend that is 10% more than the dividend declared on each share of Class B Common Stock. Stock dividends declared can only be paid in shares of Class A Common Stock. The Company currently intends to retain all earnings to support its operations and future growth and, therefore, does not anticipate the declaration or payment of cash dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future.

Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and generally do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses on existing accounts receivable. Management determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience within each of the Company's regions. Management reviews material past due balances on a monthly basis. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when management determines it is probable that the receivable will not be recovered.

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company actively monitors its exposure to interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate risks and uses derivative financial instruments to manage the impact of these risks. The Company uses derivatives only for purposes of managing risk associated with underlying exposures. The Company does not trade or use derivative instruments with the objective of earning financial gains on the interest rate or exchange rate fluctuations alone, nor does the Company use derivative instruments where it does not have underlying exposures. Complex instruments involving leverage or multipliers are not used. The Company manages its hedging position and monitors the credit ratings of counterparties and does not anticipate losses due to counterparty nonperformance. Management believes its use of derivative instruments to manage risk is in the Company's best interest. However, the Company's use of derivative financial instruments may result in short-term gains or losses and increased earnings volatility. The Company's instruments are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value in prepaid expenses and other, other assets, net, accrued expenses or other long-term liabilities.

The Company may designate derivatives as a hedge of a forecasted transaction or a hedge of the variability of the cash flows to be received or paid in the future related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge). The portion of the changes in the fair value of the derivative used as a cash flow hedge that is offset by changes in the expected cash flows related to a recognized asset or liability (the effective portion) is recorded in other comprehensive (loss)/income. As the hedged item is realized, the gain or loss included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income is reported in the consolidated statements of operations on the same line item as the hedged item. The portion of the changes in the fair value of derivatives used as cash flow hedges that is not offset by changes in the expected cash flows related to a recognized asset or liability (the ineffective portion) is immediately recognized in earnings on the same line item as the hedged item.

The Company matches the hedge instrument to the underlying hedged item (assets, liabilities, firm commitments or forecasted transactions). At inception of the hedge and at least quarterly thereafter, the Company assesses whether the derivatives used to hedge transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in either the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. When it is determined that a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting, and any gains or losses on the derivative instrument thereafter are recognized in earnings during the period in which it no longer qualifies for hedge accounting.

From time to time, the Company may enter into certain derivative instruments that may not be designated as hedges for accounting purposes. For example, to mitigate currency exposures related to intercompany debt, cross-currency swap contracts may be entered into for periods consistent with the underlying debt. The Company believes such instruments are closely correlated with the underlying exposure, thus reducing the associated risk. The gains or losses from the changes in the fair value of derivative instruments not accounted for using hedge accounting are recognized in current period earnings within other income, net.

To mitigate currency exposures related to non-functional currency denominated intercompany debt, cross-currency swap contracts may be entered into for periods consistent with the underlying debt. In determining the fair value of the derivative contract, the significant inputs to valuation models are quoted market prices of similar instruments in active markets. To mitigate currency exposures of non-United States dollar-denominated acquisitions, the Company may enter into foreign exchange forward contracts. Although cross-currency swap and foreign exchange forward derivative contracts used to mitigate exposures on foreign currency intercompany debt do not qualify for hedge accounting, the Company believes that such instruments are closely correlated with the underlying exposure, thus reducing the associated risk. The gains or losses from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recognized in current period earnings within other income, net.

The Company uses interest rate swap agreements to manage its exposure to the changes in interest rates on the Company's variable rate debt. These swap agreements are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Changes in the fair value of the swap agreements are recorded in net income or other comprehensive (loss)/income, based on whether the agreements are designated as part of a hedge transaction and whether the agreements are effective in offsetting the change in the value of the future interest payments attributable to the underlying portion of the Company's variable rate debt. Interest payments accrued each reporting period for these interest rate swaps are recognized in interest expense. The Company formally documents its hedge relationships, including identifying the hedge instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for entering into the hedge transaction.