Abstract: Telecommunications Network In a telecommunications network, a level of redundancy is often provided so that in the event of a circuit failure a back-up route may be used. A telecommunications network in which automatic switching of telecommunications traffic to back-up circuits is disclosed herein when faults are detected on a traffic carrying circuit. In particular, when dedicated private circuits develop faults, a network automatically switches traffic to a dedicated back-up circuit. Particular points on incoming and outgoing circuits of a switch are monitored. Faults at particular points result in autonomous switching of traffic to a dedicated back-up circuit. Communication is facilitated between switches by using predetermined signals on the dedicated back-up circuit.