-----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,
 B6wwuxNdZWaWcLC/y4iECOEZgTY5AUG54IBAef/LKAqFWghNdVXT4N61m0QnGnn5
 A4rjwguuQMMb7M3/rLIFuA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000099780-04-000126.txt : 20041215
<SEC-HEADER>0000099780-04-000126.hdr.sgml : 20041215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041215181927
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000099780-04-000126
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRINITY INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000099780
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RAILROAD EQUIPMENT [3743]
		IRS NUMBER:				750225040
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 STEMMONS FREEWAY
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75207-2401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		214-631-4420

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRINITY STEEL CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720407

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THRALL INVESTMENT CO LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001161761
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06903
		FILM NUMBER:		041205964

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		845 LARCH AVE
		CITY:			ELMHURST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60126
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6305306126

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		845 LARCH AVE
		CITY:			ELMHURST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60126
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000099780</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRINITY INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYSE/TRN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001161761</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THRALL INVESTMENT CO LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>845 LARCH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELMHURST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60126</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3150000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David L. Filkin, Secretary of Thrall Investment Company, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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