The mission of Eastern Carolina Rail is to engage the resources of Southeastern North Carolina, through both public and private efforts, to restore rail passenger service from Wilmington to Raleigh, North Carolina. Eastern Carolina Rail is a non-profit corporation incorporated under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Eastern Carolina Rail's initiative has garnered significant public support. With federal and state funding available, the mission is to rally further public and private support, recognizing that this collective effort will transform this initiative into a tangible reality.

Following the initial blueprint released by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) of the 2005 Southeastern North Carolina Passenger Rail Study, Eastern Carolina Rail has played a pivotal role in bringing light to the initiative, engaging public and private sector stakeholders, and engaging with public officials to gain the needed support to restoring passenger rail service to the region.

The rail link will create opportunities for the Port of Wilmington, Department of Defense and Wilmington International Airport, modernizing transportation infrastructure interconnectivity throughout the region and easing highway congestion.

The proposed Raleigh-to-Wilmington route via Goldsboro would strengthen national security and regional access during natural disasters by providing a needed contingency freight rail route to serve the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, and the State Port (Port of Wilmington). Along the proposed route, Wilmington and numerous commercial entities, towns, and communities will experience an economic boom.

Eastern Carolina Rail was founded and led by Gene Merritt and Steve Unger, distinguished Wilmington entrepreneurs. Merritt, a key figure in the extension of I-40 from Benson to Wilmington, is also the founder of DARE, an organization that revitalized downtown Wilmington through economic development. Unger, the visionary behind the U.S. 17 Hampstead Bypass, is also known for his instrumental role in preserving the historic Topsail Beach Assembly Building, now a community center and home of the Missiles & More Museum.

Eastern Carolina Rail will undertake a public support drive and do whatever is necessary to assist the NCDOT in making this project a reality through a private/public undertaking designed to create awareness and assist as a problem-solver at all levels.