<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000740796</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLORIDA EAST COAST INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FLA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209752</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANESTIS ROBERT W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MALAGA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. AUGUSTINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32084</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President, CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>152316</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>144816</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2816</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sold 100 shares @ 43.62; 100 @ 43.61; 300 @ 43.66; 200 @ 43.69; 100 @ 43.68; 100 @ 43.75; 100 @ 43.72; 200 @ 43.70; 100 @ 43.76; 100 @ 43.73; 100 @ 43.71; 100 @ 43.77; 100 @ 43.40; 200 @ 43.47; 200 @ 43.48; 200 @ 43.51;100 @ 43.50; 100 @ 43.58; 200 @ 43.31; 300 @ 43.35; 100 @ 43.36; 300 @ 43.37; 100 @ 43.82; 200 @ 43.85; 100 @ 43.89; 200 @ 44.04; 200 @ 44.02; 200 @ 44.01; 200 @ 44.00; 100 @ 44.05; 100 @ 44.03; 900 @ 43.18; 900 @ 43.99; 300 @ 43.97; 200 @ 43.98; 100 @ 43.96; 100 @ 44.11; 200 @ 44.10</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Sold 200 Shares @ 43.71; 300 @ 43.70; 100 @ 43.72; 100 @ 43.74; 1100 @ 43.41; 400 @ 43.44; 300 @ 43.42; 600 @ 43.43; 500 @ 43.40; 200 @ 43.49; 100 @ 43.47; 200 @ 43.45; 300 @ 43.46; 100 @ 43.48; 300 @ 43.54; 100 @ 43.51; 100 @ 43.50; 100 @ 43.56; 100 @ 43.55; 300 @ 43.20; 100 @ 43.24; 200 @ 43.35; 300 @ 43.39; 100 @ 43.47; 200 @ 43.36; 100 @ 43.34; 100 @ 43.33; 200 @ 43.38; 100 @ 43.11; 400 @ 43.12; 100 @ 43.18; 100 @ 43.17</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares of FLA Common Stock acquired through the Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. 401(k) Plan.  This information is based on plan statement dated 12/31/04.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The sales in this form were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on February 15, 2005.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>__________________________________________ Brian J. Nicholson, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
