Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Reports Traffic for November 2008

GREENWICH, Conn., Dec. 11, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Genesee &
Wyoming Inc. (GWI) (NYSE: GWR) today reported traffic volumes for November
2008.

GWI’s traffic in November 2008 from continuing operations was 72,725
carloads, an increase of 10,290 carloads, or 16.5 percent, compared with
November 2007. GWI’s traffic in the fourth quarter of 2008 through November
was 154,253 carloads, an increase of 24,202 carloads, or 18.6 percent,
compared with the fourth quarter of 2007 through November.

    The table below sets forth carloading information for November 2008 and
November 2007:

    Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
    Continuing Operations       November        % of   November        % of
    by Commodity Group              2008       Total       2007       Total

    Coal, Coke & Ores             18,267       25.1%     15,655       25.1%
    Minerals & Stone              12,421       17.1%      9,944       15.9%
    Pulp & Paper                   8,795       12.1%      9,996       16.0%
    Farm & Food Products           7,601       10.4%      5,300        8.5%
    Metals                         5,863        8.1%      6,160        9.9%
    Lumber & Forest Products       5,462        7.5%      6,362       10.2%
    Chemicals-Plastics             3,931        5.4%      3,520        5.6%
    Petroleum Products             2,398        3.3%      2,570        4.1%
    Autos & Auto Parts               732        1.0%      1,206        1.9%
    Intermodal                        79        0.1%        156        0.3%
    Other                          7,176        9.9%      1,566        2.5%

    Total                         72,725      100.0%     62,435      100.0%

GWI railroads acquired within the last 12 months shipped a combined 15,885
carloads in November 2008. GWI’s same-railroad traffic in November 2008
decreased by 5,595 carloads, or 9.0 percent, compared with November 2007. The
decrease was principally due to a decline in metals traffic of 2,340 carloads
primarily due to reduced shipments in GWI’s New York/Pennsylvania, Oregon and
Southern Regions. Pulp & paper traffic declined 1,729 carloads primarily due
to reduced shipments in GWI’s Southern Region and GWI’s Oregon Region and
lumber & forest products traffic declined 1,042 carloads primarily due to
reduced shipments in GWI’s Oregon Region. These decreases were partially
offset by a 1,273 carload increase in farm & food products traffic primarily
due to increased grain shipments in GWI’s Australia Region. All other same-
railroad traffic decreased by a net 1,757 carloads.

The table below sets forth carloading information for the fourth quarter
of 2008 through November and the fourth quarter of 2007 through November:

    Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
    Continuing Operations      QTD Nov.          % of    QTD Nov.      % of
    by Commodity Group             2008         Total        2007     Total

    Coal, Coke & Ores            39,418         25.6%     34,311      26.4%
    Minerals & Stone             27,207         17.6%     20,988      16.1%
    Pulp & Paper                 19,063         12.4%     20,092      15.4%
    Metals                       13,299          8.6%     12,552       9.6%
    Farm & Food Products         13,014          8.4%     10,025       7.7%
    Lumber & Forest Products     12,533          8.1%     13,734      10.6%
    Chemicals-Plastics            8,459          5.5%      7,294       5.6%
    Petroleum Products            4,826          3.1%      5,055       3.9%
    Autos & Auto Parts            1,614          1.1%      2,430       1.9%
    Intermodal                      207          0.1%        362       0.3%
    Other                        14,613          9.5%      3,208       2.5%

    Total                       154,253        100.0%    130,051     100.0%

GWI railroads acquired within the last 12 months shipped a combined 34,063
carloads in the fourth quarter of 2008 through November. Same-railroad traffic
in the fourth quarter of 2008 through November decreased by 9,861 carloads, or
7.6 percent, compared with the fourth quarter of 2007 through November. The
decrease was principally due to declines of 3,710 carloads of metals traffic,
2,926 carloads of coal, coke & ores traffic and 2,012 carloads of pulp & paper
products traffic. All other same-railroad traffic decreased by a net 1,213
carloads.

GWI railroads acquired within the last 12 months include: The Maryland
Midland Railway, which GWI started operating January 1, 2008, CAGY Industries,
Inc., which GWI started operating May 31, 2008, and the Georgia Southwestern
Railroad and the Ohio Central Railroad System, both of which GWI started
operating October 1, 2008.

Historically, GWI has found that carload information may be indicative of
freight revenues on its railroads, but may not be indicative of total
revenues, operating expenses, operating income or net income.

GWI owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads in the
United States, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands and owns a minority
interest in a railroad in Bolivia. Operations currently include 63 railroads
organized in nine regions, with more than 6,700 miles of owned and leased
track and approximately 3,000 additional miles under track access
arrangements. GWI provides rail service at 16 ports in North America and
Europe and performs contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial
customers.

CONTACT: Matthew O. Walsh, Senior Vice President – Corporate Development
and Treasurer, Genesee & Wyoming Inc. 203-629-3722

Web site: http://www.gwrr.com

SOURCE Genesee & Wyoming Inc.