The station is at the centre of a £6Bn housing development where 10,000 homes are planned along with jobs for thousands of people.

Meridian Water replaces the former Angel Road station and is part of a package of upgrades to railway in the Lee Valley that includes 5.5km of new track to allow two more trains an hour to run towards Stratford from this autumn.

Improvements have also been completed at nearby Tottenham Hale and Northumberland Park stations, where new platforms and accessible footbridges have been installed.

Several rail bridges along the route have also been refurbished or replaced, signals upgraded and additional power lines installed. Construction activity was carried out on behalf of Network Rail by principal contractor VolkerFitzpatrick.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “By working closely with Enfield Council and Network Rail, we have provided significant investment to improve this vital rail link, which will allow more people access to the railway and facilitate the council’s plans to increase housing in the area.”

London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport Heidi Alexander added: “The Lee Valley Rail Programme is an excellent example of how investing in transport directly supports regeneration and growth. These improvements to the transport network will make this part of London an even more appealing place to live, work and visit.”

Network Rail’s route managing director for the Anglia region Meliha Duymaz said: “Reducing congestion at busy stations and building a brand new one for the people of Enfield will transform journeys as our network gets busier.”

Enfield Council leader Nesil Caliskan added: “Over the last year the Meridian Water project has gathered real pace and many of the elements of this £6Bn project are coming together. With the station now open and service improvements to follow, we are forging ahead with this scheme to deliver thousands of new homes and jobs for local people.”

Enfield has selected a developer to deliver a first phase of homes and workspaces, with the first completions due in 2022.

(Photograph: Network Rail)