<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
                                                              Exhibit 27
                                                              ----------


                              CONRAIL INC.
                         FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                    ($ In Millions Except Per Share)


THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.


<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000,000

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                    JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                      MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           3-MOS
<CASH>                                     27
<SECURITIES>                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                             664
<ALLOWANCES>                                0
<INVENTORY>                               157
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        1,213
<PP&E>                                  6,384
<DEPRECIATION>                              0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          8,432
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                   1,251
<BONDS>                                 1,873
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0
<PREFERRED>                               281
<COMMON>                                   86
<OTHER-SE>                              2,577
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            8,432
<SALES>                                     0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                          889
<CGS>                                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             820
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         47
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            50
<INCOME-TAX>                               19
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        31
<DISCONTINUED>                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             0
<CHANGES>                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                               31
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             .36
<EPS-DILUTED>                             .35