Line-based public safety answering point

A line-based system and method that completes an emergency call from a telephone to a public safety answering point (PSAP) comprises a multiplicity of operator stations (257) connected by individual lines (256) to a telephone switching system (230). An emergency call is routed to the termination ports of the switching system associated with the PSAP. Each of the termination ports is connected to one of the multiplicity of operator stations via its associated line, thereby establishing a path from the telephone to the operator station, the calling party number(CPN) of the calling telephone (e.g. 216) is delivered to the selected operator station, and the operator station obtains location information of the telephone in accordance with the CPN, which is then displayed.