Minster for Rail Derek Twigg MP, was guest of honour at the unveiling ceremony last Thursday.

The previous station building was constructed in the 1960's and was closed in 1999 and later demolished because it was unsafe.

The Pitsea platforms have remained open since then, but commuters have had to buy their tickets from a temporary building at the site in Station Lane.

The new station building includes high-tech information screens, automatic ticket gates, low level ticket windows, disabled toilets and a coffee shop.

Money was also spent on new cycle racks, improved lighting and renewing bridges across platforms.

Pitsea station is vital stop of the c2c line to Fenchurch Street as it provides access to the Tilbury Loop, which takes in Stanford-le-Hope, east Tilbury, Grays, Chafford Hundred, Ockendon, Purfleet, Rainham and Dagenham Dock stations.

At Thursday's ceremony, Mr Twigg said "We are currently spending £87 million a week on railways and I am pleased to see how this money is being invested.

"Developments like this show why record numbers of people are using the railway."

Andrew Chivers, c2c's managing director, hailed the reopening as an "important day for the people of Pitsea."

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Updated 04/12/2005