A relay node of a communication system includes a communication unit that initiates a session by executing an initial connection procedure for retrieving a cell list indicating one or more donor base station candidates from a maintenance node after establishment of an initial communication link among the relay node, a base station, and a switching center, and for establishing a communication link to a donor base station in the cell list and a switching center connected to the donor base station; a storing unit that stores the cell list; and a reconnection control unit that selects, when a radio link with the donor base station is lost, a donor base station satisfying a predetermined criterion in the cell list, and that causes the communication unit to establish a communication link to the selected donor base station and a switching center connected to the selected donor base station.