The missing link was removed by Guilford, just before they sold the ROW to NHN (late 80’s early 90s?). The missing link is still owned by NHN, so it will be on their dime (minus and transportation grants they can get). However, right now there are no plans to restore it that I'm aware of but if the right consignee, shipper comes around that can justify the expense of rebuilding it, I’m sure they would have it up and running in relatively short order. On the contrary, there's bound to be environmental and NIMBY lawsuits to try and stop it, so: time, money & patience, would have to be factored in, to withstand the onslaught of those and the long drawn out court process and appeals that goes with each and every lawsuit, plus the STB challenges & rulings that just naturally take time. As for the state owned portion of the Conway Branch (which is north of the missing section), the state has made it very clear, there's no money available from the state to rehab any rail line that they own, so at this time the lease holding railroad would be 100% responsible for the cost. If rail customers help pay, then that would likely be worked out with the railroad during negotiations.
It takes real skill to choke on air, fall up the stairs and trip over nothing. I have those skills.