Raleigh, N.C. — Amtrak’s Piedmont route, which runs from Raleigh to Charlotte, grew by a higher percentage of riders than any other route in the nation during the last fiscal year, according to the latest data from the rail service.

The route set a new record of more than 162,000 riders and had the best percentage increase of all Amtrak routes, with a jump of 16.2 percent over the previous year, Amtrak said. The 2012 fiscal year ended Sept. 30.

“It’s very satisfying to know that more North Carolinians are using train travel as an option,” said Anthony Fuller, rail division director for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which owns the route. “It is equally gratifying to know that our state grew faster in fiscal year 2012 than any other service in the Amtrak system.”

The Piedmont makes two round trips daily between Raleigh and Charlotte and serves seven other North Carolina cities: Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury and Kannapolis. The state-supported Carolinian also makes one round trip each day, serving the same locations.