Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 74,067	$ 80,472
Accounts receivable, net	441,105	416,705
Materials and supplies	52,517	57,750
Prepaid expenses and other	54,292	34,606
Total current assets	621,981	589,533
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	4,613,295	4,656,921
GOODWILL	1,128,580	1,165,587
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	1,466,137	1,567,038
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSETS, net	3,883	3,343
OTHER ASSETS	70,122	52,475
Total assets	7,903,998	8,034,897
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt	25,138	27,853
Accounts payable	271,539	253,993
Accrued expenses	171,011	185,935
Total current liabilities	467,688	467,781
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion	2,300,556	2,303,442
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, net	866,821	873,194
DEFERRED ITEMS - grants from outside parties	323,370	321,592
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	162,993	172,796
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital	1,779,168	1,757,332
Retained earnings	2,426,690	2,234,864
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(135,076)	(105,534)
Treasury stock, at cost	(510,245)	(236,951)
Total Genesee & Wyoming Inc. stockholders' equity	3,561,294	3,650,466
Noncontrolling interest	221,276	245,626
Total equity	3,782,570	3,896,092
Total liabilities and equity	7,903,998	8,034,897
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value, one vote per share; 180,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017; 75,199,229 and 74,808,305 shares issued and 58,737,895 and 61,946,078 shares outstanding (net of 16,461,334 and 12,862,227 shares in treasury) on September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
EQUITY:
Common Stock	752	748
Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value, ten votes per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017; 541,138 and 701,138 shares issued and outstanding on September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
EQUITY:
Common Stock	$ 5	$ 7