Changes in Operations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Significant Changes in Operations [Abstract]

Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]

The following acquisition-date fair values were assigned to the acquired net assets (dollars in thousands):

Materials and supplies	$	3,621
Prepaid expenses and other	116
Property and equipment	217,032
Deferred income tax assets	325
Total assets	221,094
Current portion of long-term debt	1,121
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	108
Long-term debt, less current portion	1,260
Net assets	$	218,605

Schedule of Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisitions [Table Text Block]

The calculation of the total consideration for the RailAmerica acquisition is presented below (in thousands, except per share amount):

RailAmerica outstanding common stock as of October 1, 2012	49,934
Cash purchase price per share	$	27.50
Equity purchase price	$	1,373,184
Payment of RailAmerica's outstanding term loan and revolving credit facility	659,198
Cash consideration	2,032,382
Impact of pre-acquisition share-based awards	9,400
Total consideration	$	2,041,782

Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]

The fair values assigned to the acquired net assets of RailAmerica were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	RailAmerica
	As of October 1, 2012		As of December 28, 2012
			Preliminary		Final
Cash and cash equivalents	$	86,102	$	107,922	$	107,922
Accounts receivable	104,839		91,424		90,659
Materials and supplies	6,406		7,325		7,325
Prepaid expenses and other	15,146		14,815		15,801
Deferred income tax assets	49,074		49,074		56,998
Property and equipment	1,579,321		1,588,612		1,599,282
Goodwill	474,115		474,115		471,028
Intangible assets	451,100		446,327		416,427
Other assets	116		116		116
Total assets	2,766,219		2,779,730		2,765,558
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	143,790		135,117		140,160
Long-term debt	12,158		12,010		12,010
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	542,210		551,856		535,864
Other long-term liabilities	20,754		19,618		21,439
Noncontrolling interest	5,525		5,525		481
Net assets	$	2,041,782	$	2,055,604	$	2,055,604

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes the Company's unaudited pro forma operating results for the year ended December 31, 2012 as if the acquisition of RailAmerica had been consummated as of January 1, 2011. The pro forma operating results do not include the impact of any potential operating efficiencies, savings from expected synergies, costs to integrate the operations or costs necessary to achieve savings from expected synergies, or the impact of derivative instruments that the Company has entered into or may enter into to mitigate interest rate or currency exchange rate risk (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

	2012
Operating revenues	$	1,461,419
Net income attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc.	$	112,191
Less: Series A-1 Preferred Stock dividend	17,500
Net income available to common stockholders	$	94,691
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders	$	1.99
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders	$	1.89