<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000819694 <NAME> PEOPLES TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 5,817,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 22,477,000 <ALLOWANCES> (3,898,000) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 27,474,000 <PP&E> 136,938,000 <DEPRECIATION> (87,129,000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 116,435,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 27,762,000 <BONDS> 100,000,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 17,579,000 <COMMON> 162,000 <OTHER-SE> (30,394,000) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 116,435,000 <SALES> 86,265,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 86,265,000 <CGS> 70,484,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 87,125,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,703,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> (10,563,000) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (10,563,000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (10,563,000) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.73) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.73)