Plan, last published in August 2015, continues to recommend the rail route and interim Thruway Bus service. The plan estimates a cost of $405,300,000 in 2014 dollars and a ridership of 24,000 in the first year. Noting the age of the original studies, NCDOT prescribes an updated study. In March 2021, Amtrak included the route in its "Amtrak Connects Us" 15-year expansion vision ahead of the Biden administration's push to pass the American Jobs Plan. Raleigh – Wilmington In May 2001, NCDOT's Southeastern North Carolina Passenger Rail Feasibility Study showed strong interest in trains from Raleigh to Wilmington. A July 2005 study recommended that two new routes be added to the State Rail Plan. Both routes would start by following the Carolinian and Silver Star corridor from Raleigh to Selma. The "Goldsboro route" would continue southeast from Selma to Goldsboro, then head south to Wilmington with potential stops in Mount Olive, Warsaw, Wallace, Burgaw, and Castle Hayne. This route is the most direct but would require rebuilding 27 miles of track and six rail bridges. The "Fayetteville route" would follow the Palmetto and Silver Meteor corridor southwest from Selma through Fayetteville, then at a new station in Pembroke, branch southeast to Wilmington with potential stops in Lumberton, Bladenboro, Acme/Riegelwood, and Navassa. The 2015 State Rail Plan continues to recommend both routes, listing the estimated cost of the Goldsboro route at $262,500,000 in 2014 dollars and its first-year ridership at 29,000, though the plan also requests new studies to update these figures. In March 2021, Amtrak included the Goldsboro route to Wilmington in its "Amtrak Connects Us" 15-year expansion vision. Charlotte – Lynchburg, Virginia Service between Charlotte and Lynchburg, Virginia, is currently provided once daily by the long-distance Crescent. NCDOT is performing a preliminary evaluation for additional service, which may be achieved by extending a Northeast Regional round trip to Charlotte. The cost has been estimated at $35,600,000 in 2014 dollars. Raleigh – Greenville One or more Piedmont round trips could be extended from Raleigh to Greenville along the Carolina Coastal Railway, connecting with the Palmetto and Silver Service at Wilson station. In July 2022, planners from NCDOT and Pitt County announced they would hire a contractor to conduct a feasibility study of the route after receiving a $250,000 federal grant. The study is expected to take 18 months. Supporters of the study include Greenville Mayor P.J. Connelly, East Carolina University