The Cape Cod Central Railroad can operate over the Cape's state-owned tracks until 2008, under an agreement completed this week.

Scott Himstead, president of the line, was upbeat Tuesday as he confirmed the news discussed at last week's Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority meeting. "With the economy turning around, we're looking for a reasonably positive year," he said. "The year we're coming off had our best bottom line under the current ownership."

At the RTA meeting , authority administrator Joe Potzka said the state's plan to put in a second rail behind the transportation center next to the Cape Cod Central station has been delayed for a year. He's still keeping a light in the window for the railroad to move its office a few steps up the line to the center.

That may not happen anytime soon. Himstead said the railroad is renewing its lease on the old depot. "We like the Main Street presence," he said. "We like the parking."

The line's dinner train will roll again on April 10, and excursion trains will be back on track Memorial Day weekend. Luncheon and family supper trains will return in the summer.

Himstead said there are a "couple things" that will be new this year, but they're still under negotiation. One idea that's "not under discussion," he said, is connector rail service to the MBTA commuter lines off-Cape.

The former newspaper publisher says he's having a great time in his new role. "I've been a railroad aficionado ever since I was a lad," Himstead said. "My high school yearbook said I'd be president of the CCRR - the Chevy Chase Rail Road."