Document and Entity Information Document - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 22, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001012620
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 3,299,521,163
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		61,369,716
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		758,138