Exhibit 99.1

News Release

One Centerpointe Drive Suite 200 Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035 503-684-7000                             www.gbrx.com

Greenbrier Reports First Quarter EPS of $1.01; Record Backlog of 41,200 Units;

Continued Margin Expansion to 17.8%

~ Grows backlog by 9,700 units in quarter ~

~ Receives orders for an additional 3,500 units after quarter end ~

~ Updates FY 2015 EPS guidance to $5.20 to $5.50 from $4.25 to $4.55 ~

Lake Oswego, Oregon, January 7, 2015 – The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (NYSE: GBX) today reported financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2014.

First Quarter Highlights

Strategic Initiatives

William A. Furman, Chairman and CEO, said, “Our integrated business model continues to serve the wide-ranging transportation needs of our customers with each of our business units delivering enhanced performance beyond our own high expectations this quarter. Our strategy to diversify our product mix, add efficient, flexible capacity in low-cost facilities and drive considerably more product through our leasing model is paying off with manufacturing and leasing continuing to lead the way. Our business has never been stronger, with continued robust earnings, a growing and diverse backlog and significantly increased earnings expectations for 2015.”

Furman added, “Since the beginning of our fiscal year on September 1, 2014, we have received diverse orders for 17,600 new railcar units in North America and Europe of which nearly 70% are for double-stack intermodal units, automobile carrying cars and covered hopper cars. The quantity and value of our backlog increased for the fifth consecutive quarter, and is more than triple the size of just one year ago. This backlog is significantly more diverse as well, with over 10 different car types in North America alone. Today, tank cars comprise a little over one-fourth of our backlog compared to close to 50% a year ago, and close to 40% at the end of our last quarter.”

“The leading indicator for our business is the condition of the US economy, not energy prices. Macro-economic conditions indicate strength and expansion for the US economy in 2015 and beyond, with lower energy prices creating a strong impetus for auto production, consumer spending and overall growth. We are also making investments toward the future which includes our separate announcement today of an equity investment in Brazil-based Amsted-Maxion Hortolândia, the leading manufacturer of railcars in South America,” Furman concluded.

Business Outlook

Based on current business trends and industry forecasts, Greenbrier has raised its guidance to:

Similar to previous years, financial results in the second half of the year are expected to be stronger than the first half. Also, while gross margins are expected to increase overall, management does not believe its track will be linear.

As noted in the “Safe Harbor” statement, there are risks to achieving this guidance. Certain orders and backlog in this release are subject to customary documentation and completion of terms.

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Financial Summary

Segment Summary

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Conference Call

Greenbrier will host a teleconference to discuss its first quarter 2015 results. In conjunction with this news release, Greenbrier has posted a supplemental earnings presentation to our website. Teleconference details are as follows:

Please access the site 10 minutes prior to the start time.

About Greenbrier Companies

Greenbrier, (www.gbrx.com), headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a leading supplier of transportation equipment and services to the railroad industry. We build new railroad freight cars in our 4 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Mexico and marine barges at our U.S. manufacturing facility. Greenbrier also sells reconditioned wheel sets and provides wheel services at 9 locations throughout the U.S. We recondition, manufacture and sell railcar parts at 4 U.S. sites. Greenbrier is a 50/50 joint venture partner with Watco Companies, LLC in GBW Railcar Services, LLC which repairs and refurbishes freight cars at 39 locations across North America, including 14 tank car repair and maintenance facilities certified by the Association of American Railroads. Greenbrier builds new railroad freight cars and refurbishes freight cars for the European market through our operations in Poland. Greenbrier owns approximately 8,500 railcars, and performs management services for approximately 238,000 railcars.

“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected new railcar production volumes and schedules, expected customer demand for the Company’s products and services, plans to increase manufacturing capacity, restructuring plans, new railcar delivery volumes and schedules, growth in demand for the Company’s railcar services and parts business, and the Company’s future financial performance. Greenbrier uses words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “forecast,” “potential,” “goal,” “contemplates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “hopes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “strategy,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “likely,” “will,” “may,” “can,” “designed to,” “future,” “foreseeable future” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from in the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, reported backlog and awards are not indicative of our financial results; uncertainty or changes in the credit markets and financial services industry; high levels of indebtedness and compliance with the terms of our indebtedness; write-downs of goodwill, intangibles and other assets in future periods; sufficient availability of borrowing capacity; fluctuations in demand for newly manufactured railcars or failure to obtain orders as anticipated in developing forecasts; loss of one or more significant customers; customer payment defaults or related issues; actual future costs and the availability of materials and a trained workforce; failure to design or manufacture new products or technologies or to achieve certification or market acceptance of new products or technologies; steel or specialty component price fluctuations and availability and scrap surcharges; changes in product mix and the mix between segments; labor disputes, energy shortages or operating difficulties that might disrupt manufacturing operations or the flow of cargo; production difficulties and product delivery delays as a result

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of, among other matters, inefficiencies associated with expansion or start-up of production lines or increased production rates, changing technologies, transfer of production between facilities or non-performance of alliance partners, subcontractors or suppliers; ability to obtain suitable contracts for the sale of leased equipment and risks related to car hire and residual values; integration of current or future acquisitions and establishment of joint ventures; succession planning; discovery of defects in railcars or services resulting in increased warranty costs or litigation; physical damage or product or service liability claims that exceed our insurance coverage; train derailments or other accidents or claims that could subject us to legal claims; actions or inactions by various regulatory agencies including potential environmental remediation obligations or changing tank car or other rail car or railroad regulation; and issues arising from investigations of whistleblower complaints; all as may be discussed in more detail under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Forward Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, and our other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date hereof. Except as otherwise required by law, we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Net earnings excluding gain on contribution to GBW, Adjusted EBITDA, and Diluted earnings per share excluding gain on contribution to GBW are not financial measures under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We define Net earnings excluding gain on contribution to GBW as Net earnings before gain on contribution to GBW (after-tax). We define Adjusted EBITDA as Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier before interest and foreign exchange, income tax expense, gain on contribution to GBW, and depreciation and amortization. We define Diluted earnings per share excluding gain on contribution to GBW as Net earnings excluding gain on contribution to GBW before interest and debt issuance costs (net of tax) on convertible notes divided by Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. Net earnings excluding gain on contribution to GBW, Adjusted EBITDA, and Diluted earnings per share excluding gain on contribution to GBW are performance measurement tools used by Greenbrier. You should not consider Net earnings excluding gain on contribution to GBW, Adjusted EBITDA, and Diluted earnings per share excluding gain on contribution to GBW in isolation or as a substitute for other financial statement data determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because Adjusted EBITDA and Diluted earnings per share excluding gain on contribution to GBW are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, these measures presented may differ from and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

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THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, unaudited)

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THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

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THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands, unaudited)

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THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

(In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Operating Results by Quarter for 2014 are as follows:

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THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

(In thousands, unaudited)

Segment Information

Three months ended November 30, 2014:

Three months ended August 31, 2014:

The results of operations for GBW, which are shown below, are not reflected in the above tables as the investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

(In thousands, excluding backlog and delivery units, unaudited)

Reconciliation of Net earnings to Adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾

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THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

(In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Reconciliation of common shares outstanding and diluted earnings per share

The shares used in the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted earnings per common share and Diluted earnings per share excluding gain on contribution to GBW are reconciled as follows:

Diluted earnings per share was calculated using the more dilutive of two approaches. The first approach includes the dilutive effect of outstanding warrants and shares underlying the 2026 Convertible notes in the share count using the treasury stock method. The second approach supplements the first by including the “if converted” effect of the 2018 Convertible notes issued in March 2011. Under the “if converted method” debt issuance and interest costs, both net of tax, associated with the convertible notes are added back to net earnings and the share count is increased by the shares underlying the convertible notes.

Reconciliation of Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier to Net earnings excluding gain on contribution to GBW

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