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

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


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

       
                                    

<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000,000

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                    JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                      DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          12-MOS
<CASH>                                     30
<SECURITIES>                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                             630
<ALLOWANCES>                                0
<INVENTORY>                               139
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        1,117
<PP&E>                                  6,590
<DEPRECIATION>                              0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          8,402
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                   1,092
<BONDS>                                 1,876
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0
<PREFERRED>                               211
<COMMON>                                   88
<OTHER-SE>                              2,808
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            8,402
<SALES>                                     0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                        3,714
<CGS>                                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                           3,113
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        182
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           531
<INCOME-TAX>                              189
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       342
<DISCONTINUED>                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             0
<CHANGES>                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                              342
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            4.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                            3.89