A transport apparatus, includes a switching frame generator that generates a GCC-mode-switching special frame for instructing a corresponding apparatus to switch a GCC mode, a GCC overhead insertion unit that inserts the GCC-mode-switching special frame generated by the switching frame generator into a GCC overhead and transmits the GCC overhead to the corresponding apparatus, a transmission-mode controller that performs a control operation to switch the GCC mode of its own apparatus after the transmission of the GCC-mode-switching special frame is completed by the GCC overhead insertion unit, a switching-frame determination unit that determines, upon receiving the GCC overhead from the corresponding apparatus, whether the GCC-mode-switching special frame is inserted into the GCC overhead, and a reception-mode controller that performs a control operation to switch the GCC mode of its own apparatus when the switching-frame determination unit determines that the GCC-mode-switching special frame is inserted into the GCC overhead.