China's largest rail production and repair base in the central Hubei Province began operation on Monday.

The Changjiang Company of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Industry (Group) Corporation in the provincial capital Wuhan will be capable of producing 11,000 cargo train cars and repairing 17,000 cars annually. It is the largest facility of its kind in Asia, the company said.

The 100-hectare base was created after the merger of a number of locomotive companies in central and southern China. It has an investment of 3 billion yuan (US$405 million).

Certain products made by the company will target the North American market. It also aims to export 40,000 tons of parts and repair 450 passenger trains annually.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2007)