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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-02-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001012620</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENESEE &amp; WYOMING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GWR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001577285</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Walsh Matthew O.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GENESEE &amp; WYOMING INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>20 WEST AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DARIEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06820</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Global Corp. Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were surrendered to Genesee &amp; Wyoming Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) for the payment of taxes in connection with the vesting of previously granted restricted stock awards.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This restricted stock award was granted under the Company's Fourth Amended and Restated 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) and will vest in three equal annual installments, beginning February 28, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents the number of underlying shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company earned in accordance with the Company's attainment of pre-determined financial performance targets established under its GVA methodology on the previously granted 2017 performance-based restricted stock unit award. The aforementioned award was also subject to time-based vesting, and partially vested on February 28, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents the number of underlying shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company earned in accordance with the Company's attainment of pre-determined financial performance targets established under its GVA methodology on the previously granted 2018 performance-based restricted stock unit award. The aforementioned award was also subject to time-based vesting, and partially vested on February 28, 2019.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Allison M. Fergus, Attorney-in-Fact for Matthew O. Walsh</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
