Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 90,387	$ 80,472
Accounts receivable, net	426,305	416,705
Materials and supplies	56,716	57,750
Prepaid expenses and other	54,185	34,606
Total current assets	627,593	589,533
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	4,613,014	4,656,921
GOODWILL	1,115,849	1,165,587
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	1,430,197	1,567,038
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSETS, net	4,616	3,343
OTHER ASSETS	77,192	52,475
Total assets	7,868,461	8,034,897
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt	28,303	27,853
Accounts payable	288,070	253,993
Accrued expenses	165,280	185,935
Total current liabilities	481,653	467,781
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion	2,425,235	2,303,442
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, net	877,721	873,194
DEFERRED ITEMS - grants from outside parties	326,520	321,592
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	127,280	172,796
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital	1,785,005	1,757,332
Retained earnings	2,482,252	2,234,864
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(146,456)	(105,534)
Treasury stock, at cost	(699,852)	(236,951)
Total Genesee & Wyoming Inc. stockholders' equity	3,421,706	3,650,466
Noncontrolling interest	208,346	245,626
Total equity	3,630,052	3,896,092
Total liabilities and equity	7,868,461	8,034,897
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value, one vote per share; 180,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2018 and 2017; 75,240,513 and 74,808,305 shares issued and 56,349,327 and 61,946,078 shares outstanding (net of 18,891,186 and 12,862,227 shares in treasury) on December 31, 2018 and 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 December 31, 2018 and 2017; 517,138 and 701,138 shares issued and outstanding on December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
EQUITY:
Common Stock	$ 5	$ 7