<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PRIMARK
CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 1997 AS REPORTED IN THE FORM 10-Q FOR SUCH PERIOD AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000356064
<NAME> PRIMARK
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          16,308
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  181,969
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,109
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               259,750
<PP&E>                                         125,371
<DEPRECIATION>                                  67,053
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,071,665
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          237,525
<BONDS>                                        335,843
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,071,665
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               617,468
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  342,830
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               229,749
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,809
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 31,841
<INCOME-TAX>                                    18,537
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             13,304
<DISCONTINUED>                                   (552)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1,955)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,797
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.39