<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 23.6
Consent of Independent Auditors
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to the
use of our report dated February 19, 1999, with respect to the financial
statements of The Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad Corporation incorporated
by reference from RailAmerica's Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated November 12,
1999 in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) dated September 6, 2000 of
RailAmerica Inc. for the registration of 130,000 Warrants to purchase common
stock
Ernst & Young LLP
Syracuse, New York
September 5, 2000