-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HTSeklHZFRwodPU9aKH8EmRkb/k66cJ7muEp3Km0qzl5VhQJ3sR9t1yokU/aESfw
 9pHR41jOam9vMEi+A75+RA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914260-05-000076.txt : 20050415
<SEC-HEADER>0000914260-05-000076.hdr.sgml : 20050415
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050415113225
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914260-05-000076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050406
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050415
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050415

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER RAILROAD CO/RI/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000831968
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RAILROADS, LINE-HAUL OPERATING [4011]
		IRS NUMBER:				050344399
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			RI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 HAMMOND ST
		CITY:			WORCESTER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01610
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5087554000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER RAILROAD CO
		STREET 2:		75 HAMMOND STREET
		CITY:			WORCESTER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01610

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Eder Robert H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001323679

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12761
		FILM NUMBER:		05752598

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		401-435-7171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 DEXTER ROAD
		CITY:			EAST PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02914
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000831968</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROVIDENCE &amp; WORCESTER RAILROAD CO/RI/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PWX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323679</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Eder Robert H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 DEXTER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EAST PROVIDENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02914</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>768162</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>768162</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>842742</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person beneficially owns 842,742 shares of the issuer's common stock of which 768,162 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person is a beneficiary and 74,580 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person's spouse is a beneficiary.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This form is being filed by the reporting person voluntarily in connection with the transfer of shares of common stock held by the reporting person to a trust of which the reporting person is a beneficiary.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret D. Farrell (Attorney-in-fact for Robert H. Eder)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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