Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	2018		2017		2016
Numerators:
Net income attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc.	$	244,418	$	549,051	$	141,137
Denominators:
Weighted average Class A common shares outstanding -Basic	59,745		61,579		57,324
Weighted average Class B common shares outstanding	644		735		790
Dilutive effect of employee stock-based awards	239		150		142
Weighted average shares - Diluted	60,628		62,464		58,256
Earnings per common share attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders:
Basic earnings per common share	$	4.09	$	8.92	$	2.46
Diluted earnings per common share	$	4.03	$	8.79	$	2.42

Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

The following total number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable under the assumed exercises and lapse of stock-based awards computed based on the treasury stock method were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common stockholders, as the effect of including these shares would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands):

	2018	2017	2016
Anti-dilutive shares	1,035	1,130	1,185

Share Repurchase Program 2 [Member]

Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]

Class of Treasury Stock [Table Text Block]

The table below presents information regarding shares repurchased by the Company under the $500 million share repurchase program during the year ended December 31, 2018 (in thousands, except for per share amounts):

	2018
Class A Common Stock repurchased	2,080
Average price paid per share of Class A Common Stock repurchased	$	77.03
Shares excluded from weighted-average basic shares outstanding	125

Share Repurchase Program 1 [Member]

Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]

Class of Treasury Stock [Table Text Block]

The table below presents information regarding shares repurchased by the Company under the $300 million share repurchase program during the year ended December 31, 2018 (in thousands, except for per share amounts):

	2018
Class A Common Stock repurchased	3,910
Average price paid per share of Class A Common Stock repurchased	$	76.70
Shares excluded from weighted-average basic shares outstanding	2,242