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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-15</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>2005-03-15</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>137316</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-16</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>129816</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 @ $41.79; 300 @ 41.80;100 @ 41.82; 100 @ 41.84; 100 @ 41.90; 100 @ 41.99; 200 @ 42.00; 200 @ 42.03; 100 @ 42.06; 100 @ 42.08; 200 @ 42.11; 100 @ 42.13; 100 @ 42.14; 100 @ 42.17; 100 @ 42.18; 100 @ 42.19; 200 @ 42.24; 100 @ 42.25; 100 @ 42.26; 400 @ 42.28; 100 @ 42.29; 200 @ 42.30; 300 @ 42.31; 100 @ 42.32; 100 @ 42.33; 100 @ 42.42; 200 @ 42.57; 200 @ 42.59; 100 @ 42.60; 100 @ 42.62; 100 @ 42.63; 300 @ 42.64; 100 @ 42.65; 100 @ 42.67; 100 @ 42.70; 100 @ 42.73; 100 @ 42.80; 100 @ 42.82; 100 @ 42.83; 100 @ 42.86; 100 @ 42.88; 100 @ 42.89; 100 @ 42.90; 200 @ 42.91; 100 @ 42.92; 100 @ 42.93; 100 @ 42.95; 100 @ 42.98, 200 @ 43.00; 200 @ 43.07; 100 @ 43.12; 100 @ 43.15; 100 @ 43.32; 100 @ 43.34; 200 @ 43.40.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Sold  200 @ $41.93; 100 @ 41.98; 100 @ 42.00; 100 @ 42.01; 100 @ 42.04; 100 @ 42.06; 100 @ 42.10; 100 @ 42.11; 100 @ 42.12; 100 @ 42.13; 200 @ 42.14; 100 @ 42.15; 300 @ 42.16; 300 @ 42.17; 100 @ 42.26; 200 @ 42.27; 100 @ 42.37; 400 @ 42.40; 100 @ 42.41; 200 @ 42.42; 100 @ 42.43; 100 @ 42.44; 100 @ 42.46; 100 @ 42.47; 700 @ 42.48; 400 @ 42.50; 200 @ 42.51; 200 @ 42.52; 200 @ 42.53; 200 @ 42.54; 200 @ 42.56; 500 @ 42.57; 100 @ 42.58; 200 @ 42.59; 100 @ 42.60; 200 @ 42.61; 100 @ 42.62; 300 @ 42.65; 300 @ 42.66; 100 @ 42.80.</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>__________________________________________ Heidi J. Eddins, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
