Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing traffic in a circuit switched network. A call between two nodes interconnected by a direct link is first offered to the direct route, and if that is blocked it is offered to a currently nominated two-link alternative route between the two nodes. If that route is busy, the call is lost, and a randomly chosen two-link route is assigned to be the new current nominated alternative route. The strategy is particularly effective because it is simple, available routes are quickly located and once one available route is found, that same route is used for rerouting further calls until it is full. Trunk reservation protection is applied on alternative routes.