Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
OPERATING REVENUES	$ 2,000,401	$ 1,639,012	$ 1,568,643
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Labor and benefits	614,967	469,503	439,117
Equipment rents	149,825	82,730	77,595
Purchased services	186,905	100,108	123,822
Depreciation and amortization	188,535	157,081	141,644
Diesel fuel used in train operations	132,149	149,047	147,172
Electricity used in train operations	13,714	1,058	66
Casualties and insurance	42,494	41,552	38,564
Materials	95,248	78,366	77,204
Trackage rights	78,140	53,783	50,911
Net gain on sale of assets	(2,291)	(5,100)	(4,677)
Other expenses	116,454	89,313	97,037
Total operating expenses	1,616,140	1,217,441	1,188,455
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	384,261	421,571	380,188
Interest income	481	1,445	3,971
Interest expense	(67,073)	(56,162)	(67,894)
Loss on settlement of foreign currency forward purchase contracts	(18,686)	0	0
Other income, net	1,948	1,008	1,327
Income before income taxes	300,931	367,862	317,592
Provision for income taxes	(75,894)	(107,107)	(46,296)
Net income	225,037	260,755	271,296
Series A-1 Preferred Stock dividend	0	0	2,139
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 225,037	$ 260,755	$ 269,157
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders: (US$ per share)	$ 3.97	$ 4.71	$ 5.00
Weighted average shares—Basic	56,734	55,305	53,788
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders: (US$ per share)	$ 3.89	$ 4.58	$ 4.79
Weighted average shares—Diluted	57,848	56,972	56,679