In 1921, the Tokaido Main Line between Baba (currently Zeze) Station and Kyoto Station was switched to the current line via the Higashiyama tunnel; and on the same day the old Tokaido Main Line between Kyoto Station and Inari Station and a new line between Inari Station and Momoyama Station came to serve as the Nara Line, whereby the line between Kyoto Station and Fushimi Station was abolished and the line between Fushimi Station and Momoyama Station was made a freight line.
東海道本線の馬場（現在の膳所）～京都間が東山トンネル経由の現在線に切り替えられた1921年のその日に、京都～稲荷間の旧東海道本線と稲荷～桃山間の新線が奈良線となり、京都～伏見間が廃止、伏見～桃山間が貨物線化された。