Telecommunications network restoration architecture

A restoration system is provided for enhancing the reliability of a telecommunications network (200) such that particular traffic which is disrupted by, for example, a faulty link, (e.g. 103) may be quickly rerouted via an alternate route established "on the fly". In particular, each node (100-1 to 100-9) and link (101 to 111) forming the network is monitored, and in the event that such monitoring detects a faulty link or node then a central controller is notified. The controller is arranged to locate spare capacity and establish an alternate route, (e.g. 102, 106, 107, 104) in which the continuity of the alternate route is confirmed before the disrupted traffic is transferred thereto.