A method of reconfiguring a communications network is provided. A first network using a first network protocol and a second network using a second network protocol are connected by a master data link initialized as activated and two slave data links initialized as inactivated. A failure of the master data link or a slave data link is detected by a master bridge of the second network, the master bridge being connected to the master data link. A first data packet is generated by the master bridge and is transmitted to a slave bridge of the second network, the slave bridge being connected to a slave data link. The slave bridge is selected by the master bridge according to a selection rule. The first data packet contains information which initiates a partial execution of the first network protocol on a port of the slave bridge and an activation of the slave data link by the first network protocol.