Changes in Operations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Changes in Operations [Abstract]

Schedule of Business Combination Consideration [Table Text Block]

The calculation of the total consideration for the RailAmerica acquisition is presented below (dollars in thousands, except per share amount):

RailAmerica outstanding common stock as of October 1, 2012	49,934
Cash purchase price per share	$	27.50
Equity purchase price	$	1,373,184
Payment of RailAmerica's outstanding term loan and revolving credit facility	659,198
Cash consideration	2,032,382
Impact of pre-acquisition share-based awards	9,400
Total consideration	$	2,041,782

Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]

The fair values assigned to the acquired net assets of RailAmerica, AZER and FreightLink were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	RailAmerica						FreightLink
	As of October 1, 2012		As of December 28, 2012		AZER		AUD		USD
Purchase Price Allocations:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	86,102	$	107,922	$	—	$	—	$	—
Accounts receivable, net	104,839		91,424		3,096		161		155
Materials and supplies	6,406		7,325		—		3,328		3,209
Prepaid expenses and other	15,146		14,815		2,319		101		97
Deferred income tax assets, net	49,074		49,074		—		—		—
Property and equipment	1,579,321		1,588,612		90,129		331,201		319,311
Goodwill	474,115		474,115		—		—		—
Intangible assets, net	451,100		446,327		—		—		—
Other Assets, net	116		116		—		—		—
Total assets	2,766,219		2,779,730		95,544		334,791		322,772
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	143,790		135,117		5,212		731		705
Long-term debt	12,158		12,010		—		1,806		1,741
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	542,210		551,856		—		318		307
Other long-term liabilities	20,754		19,618		—		—		—
Noncontrolling interest	5,525		5,525		—		—		—
Net assets	$	2,041,782	$	2,055,604	$	90,332	$	331,936	$	320,019

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]

The following pro forma financial statements do not include the impact of any potential operating efficiencies, savings from expected synergies, costs to integrate the operations or costs necessary to achieve savings from expected synergies or the impact of derivative instruments that the Company has entered into or may enter into to mitigate interest rate or currency exchange rate risk (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

	2012		2011		2010
Operating revenues	$	1,472,438	$	1,376,070	$	717,306
Net income attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc.	$	57,478	$	127,408	$	107,420
Series A-1 Preferred Stock dividend	17,500		17,500		—
Net income available to common stockholders	$	39,978	109,908		$	107,420
Earnings per common share attributable to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. common shareholders:
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations	$	0.94	$	2.35	$	2.70
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.88	$	2.22	$	2.50