-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MBHSk8DvkuJx5fZzZ7nseMoMQ7feTT9p+kh/zfpwT+iWBnQnQgUOO32nZP1wR3xs
 empvRe6uqMMyfxyBVvrCaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001192482-09-000144.txt : 20090529
<SEC-HEADER>0001192482-09-000144.hdr.sgml : 20090529
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090529103154
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001192482-09-000144
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090529
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090529

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HURLEY DAVID C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253263

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31456
		FILM NUMBER:		09859413

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BE AEROSPACE INC
		STREET 2:		1400 CORPORATE CENTERWAY
		CITY:			WELLINGTON
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33414

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>2009-05-27</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253263</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HURLEY DAVID C</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>2009-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1814</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16042.17</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This restricted stock award was granted under the Genesee &amp; Wyoming Inc. Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  The shares subject to the restricted stock award will vest in equal installments on the date of the next three annual meetings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Allison M. Fergus, Attorney in Fact for David Hurley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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