<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS AND  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS  OF EARNINGS  AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   MAR-31-2001
<PERIOD-END>                                                        SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                                                    9,271
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                           216,213
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              6,000
<INVENTORY>                                                                   0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        385,179
<PP&E>                                                                  411,335
<DEPRECIATION>                                                          162,131
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        1,222,220
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                   165,211
<BONDS>                                                                 359,243
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                  8,859
<OTHER-SE>                                                              627,421
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                          1,222,220
<SALES>                                                                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        521,618
<CGS>                                                                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           433,096
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         (8,639)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       11,509
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          85,652
<INCOME-TAX>                                                             32,976
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      52,676
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             52,676
<EPS-BASIC>                                                               .60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               .56