Southeastern's Highspeed Javelin train is back on track after being damaged in a crash on a Kent line.

The locomotive was knocked out of service in October after it smashed into a van at Teynham.

Engineers have spent 10 months putting the 140mph train back together again, a total of 20,000 hours, in a specialist workshop 170 miles away.

It returned to the rails on Monday.

A Southeastern spokesman said: "Passengers will benefit from fewer short trains in the peak times and the Faversham route will have the full 12 carriages for the 6.55pm evening commute from St Pancras."

The train had been travelling towards St Pancras London at 85mph when it ploughed into a DPD delivery van on a level crossing near Frognal Farm, off Lower Road, Teynham, at 3pm on Monday, October 23.

It was not derailed and none of the 80 passengers or crew were hurt but the 30-year-old van driver suffered head and collarbone injuries.

The train’s distinctive front nose cone was badly damaged by the force of the crash and the van’s bonnet was torn off.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch launched an investigation.

Network Rail had previously installed a power-operated gate at the crossing. Motorists had to telephone a signaller to confirm it was safe to cross and then press a button to lift barriers.

The report said: “There is no evidence the driver of the van made a call to the signaller. However, the signage at the crossing was not, in the RAIB’s view, clear.”

It told Network Rail to review the designs. The crossing has now reverted to manual operation with a gate but drivers must still call the signaller.

More than 180 trains use the line each day and can reach speeds of 75mph.

The crash caused huge delays to rush-hour commuter services between London and the coast while the van and debris were cleared.

The track reopened at 6.20pm but the backlog caused delays the following day.

The Highspeed service also calls at Canterbury, Margate, Ramsgate, Dover, Whitstable and Folkestone.

The Southeastern spokesman added: "The train was seriously damaged to its front and a large gouge down the side of the second coach.

"This involved a huge amount of work to develop, approve and then carry out a weld repair so the train is now as strong as it was before the crash."

The company refused to disclose how much the repair had cost.