Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. of our report dated February 28, 2018 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Rochester, New York

May 31, 2018