<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000819694 <NAME> PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 3939000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 22859000 <ALLOWANCES> (5117000) <INVENTORY> 2386000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 27488000 <PP&E> 132253000 <DEPRECIATION> (81302000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 120920000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25701000 <BONDS> 100000000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 16586000 <COMMON> 162000 <OTHER-SE> (22029000) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 120920000 <SALES> 27894000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 27894000 <CGS> 23206000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 28684000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3230000 <INCOME-PRETAX> (4020000) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (4020000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (4020000) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.27) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.27)