Network Rail has announced an overhaul and upgrade to its electrical control systems - which will help improve efficiency.

The organisation - the UK's largest power consumer - has awarded a £27m contract to telent to replace 16 electrical control systems - some dating back to the 1950s - with new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems.

Alongside the powering trains, Network Rail is also in charge of signalling, telecoms and other elements associated with operating track.

Head of operations development for the group Chris Rowley said: "It will provide a firm foundation on which to expand our electrified network, increasing reliability and improving the efficiency of how we use our power."

Some of the oldest control rooms still operating use electro-mechanical control panels which the company states are "increasingly difficult to maintain". Replacement systems will be based on Visual Display Units - which will allow for an automatic response to any circuit-breaker tripping.

The contract is expected to last until 2017.