As California secures the riches needed to start building a high-speed rail line, some longtime bitter foes of the bullet train are beginning to back off — yet from the courtroom to the boardroom, other opponents are preparing for one last shot at blocking the historic project.

The hoopla over the Legislature’s dramatic approval Friday of Gov. Jerry Brown’s $8 billion plan to begin building the $69 billion bullet train is now giving way to many less-scintillating challenges remaining before the state can break ground in the Central Valley early next year.

“The legislative aspect is over, we lost that round. So now it’s going to be the litigated phase,” said state Sen. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, who led the charge against the project in the Senate. “I don’t think there’s a complete ‘give-up’ view yet out there, but it does look tougher.”

Two opponents said for the first time Tuesday they are close to reaching settlements with the state: Union Pacific, which for years threatened to stall the project by withholding pivotal rail property along the bullet train route, said it hopes to have a deal with the rail authority “finalized soon.” And Peninsula opponents said they’re close to settling a four-year court battle over the rail line.

Even proponents of an initiative to put the project back on the ballot are now conceding their effort is likely to fail.

But a lot of work remains before the state can begin building the first 130-mile segment of the biggest public works project in California history. It must:

Fight off five current lawsuits against the project, with future suits expected.

Complete high-stakes negotiations with property owners along the route, including powerful groups like big farm businesses.

Convince investors to buy more than $500 million in state bonds this fall to kick off construction.

Fill the holes atop the project’s leadership staff by hiring a team of senior executives.