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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QVCixjf9zwTf6NhjeWSeoDA4LZb6KfeFSOZXgq8yQA33aW+nFSxLQiRSdL3wfvut
 kq9asyZb+wb/U+OFOpJQCw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001192482-09-000014.txt : 20090105
<SEC-HEADER>0001192482-09-000014.hdr.sgml : 20090105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090105161206
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001192482-09-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YOUNG M DOUGLAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246831

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31456
		FILM NUMBER:		09505257

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036293722

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		66 FIELD POINT ROAD
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENESEE & WYOMING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001012620
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RAILROADS, LINE-HAUL OPERATING [4011]
		IRS NUMBER:				060984624
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		66 FIELD POINT ROAD
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036293722

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		66 FIELD POINT ROAD
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001012620</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENESEE &amp; WYOMING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GWR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246831</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YOUNG M DOUGLAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GENESEE &amp; WYOMING INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>66 FIELD POINT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>463.6</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70780.47</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These are deferred stock units acquired pursuant to the deferred stock arrangements for non-employee directors in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (&quot;Omnibus Plan&quot;) of Genesee &amp; Wyoming Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;). The deferred stock units are converted into shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis upon distribution. Distribution of shares of Class A Common Stock occurs the first day of the calendar month after a director's service on the Company's Board of Directors terminates or upon another date or dates designated by the director pursuant to the Omnibus Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Allison M. Fergus, Attorney in Fact for Douglas M. Young</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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