-----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,
 UHVGsqB/z1f8zYDdvzShje8jqHQmhU1gSjYgCfdtpIhtN9/N/R8G8sXjPssXaAk9
 uIFsmqW6FC3cMH4RVXwsDA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000887637-10-000025.txt : 20100303
<SEC-HEADER>0000887637-10-000025.hdr.sgml : 20100303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100303150302
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000887637-10-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lundberg Paul
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001473838

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32579
		FILM NUMBER:		10653130

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RAILAMERICA, INC.
		STREET 2:		7411 FULLERTON STREET, SUITE 300
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32256

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAILAMERICA INC /DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887637
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RAILROADS, LINE-HAUL OPERATING [4011]
		IRS NUMBER:				650328006
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7411FULLERTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32256
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-342-1131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7411FULLERTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32256

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RAILAMERICA INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920724
</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>2010-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887637</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RAILAMERICA INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001473838</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lundberg Paul</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RAILAMERICA, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7411 FULLERTON STREET, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JACKSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32256</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. V.P., COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2176</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.84</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>95990</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Withheld shares to satisfy tax liability obligations upon March 1, 2010 vesting of 5,388 shares granted March 1, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott G. Williams, Attorney-in-Fact for Paul A. Lundberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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