In each node of an optical transmission system: an optical preamplifier has an ALC function for maintaining an optical output level constant and an AGC function for maintaining the gain constant; the operational mode of the optical preamplifier is changed from an ALC mode to an AGC mode after the gain is set in the ALC mode; an optical postamplifier has an AGC function; an optical switch unit performs an optical crossconnect operation; and a thru-light-shutoff control unit makes a switch setting so as to shut off pass-through light in the optical switch unit and stop transmission of an optical signal having an unstable level to a next stage when the optical preamplifier operates in the ALC mode, and clears the switch setting when the operational mode of the optical preamplifier is changed to the AGC mode.