Telephone network having dual gateway interconnection architecture for handling emergency services

A telephone network includes one or more end office switches not directly connected by a trunk line to a 911-type emergency tandem switch to handle emergency telephone calls. For those end office switches not so connected, a received emergency "9-1-1"-type telephone call is routed to a gateway switch having a trunk line connected to the emergency tandem. In the network, a first gateway switch connected to the emergency tandem switch provides the primary link, while a second gateway switch connected to the emergency tandem switch provides the secondary link. Routing information resident in end office switches is sent to the switch network to facilitate proper handling of an emergency call. The disclosed telephone network allows for less than full connectivity between gateway switches and an emergency tandem switch, while still providing a measure of redundancy to help ensure that an emergency call is completed.