<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOUND ON
PAGES 3 AND 4 OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE YEAR-TO-DATE, AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<CASH>                                      69,181,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              219,655,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  6,548,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           310,660,000
<PP&E>                                     609,750,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              75,352,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,020,926,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      216,951,000
<BONDS>                                    560,584,000
<COMMON>                                     7,093,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                  65,399,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,020,926,000
<SALES>                                    563,658,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           563,658,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              466,128,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            84,314,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          27,401,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           (14,185,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                 (566,000)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       (14,751,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                              (14,751,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.53)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0