Packet Forwarding Nodes

A packet forwarding node (20) of a transport network (10) performs a first packet forwarding mode in which received packets (51) are processed and forwarded on a per-packet basis. The forwarding node performs a second packet forwarding mode when the node identifies a group (50) of consecutive packets (51). The group of packets are destined for the same destination node of the transport network (10). The second packet forwarding mode comprises determining a forwarding treatment for the group of packets (51) and forwarding the group of packets with the determined treatment. The forwarding is performed without processing the headers (52) of at least some of the packets in the group. The group (50) of consecutive packets (51) is identified by a control packet (60) preceding the group (50) or by inter-packet signalling (53) which indicates that the packet before the inter-packet signalling and the packet after the inter-packet signalling are to be treated as part of the same group. Packets which are determined to be received on transit channels can be forwarded without processing headers of individual packets.