1. A method of transmitting data packets in a communications network from a source network node to a plurality of destinations along a branching route specified by a number of routing statements provided for different routing methods, the method which comprises: producing a first routing statement in a source network node, the first routing statement having branching information for each branch in the route and having partial routing information, specifying the route branch, for each route branch of the given branch; and containing a cross-reference to a further routing statement; allocating the first routing statement to at least one data packet to be transmitted, and transmitting to network nodes immediately following the source network node on the route; and controlling with the routing statement the network node receiving the routing statement, with branching information initiating transmission of a received data packet through network nodes denoted by the partial routing information allocated to a route branch and immediately following the branch, to which, furthermore, the respective partial routing information is transmitted, with or without information in each case denoting one of these nodes, as the routing statement, and initiating, with the network node receiving the routing statement, a valuation of the further routing statement denoted by the cross-reference when a cross-reference relating to this network node is present, and the received data packet being passed on to network nodes or terminals denoted in the further routing statement.