Beginning with the Hanshin Line (started in 1905), the opening of the subsequent Minoo Arima Electric Tramway (later Hankyu Takarazuka Main Line, started in 1910), the Hanshin Kobe Main Line (started in 1920) and other lines became a trigger for focusing on the suburban farming areas which had previously been unexploited hinterlands in Kobe and Hokusetsu region.
阪神本線（1905年開業）を嚆矢とし、続く箕面有馬電気軌道（後の阪急宝塚本線、1910年開業）、阪急神戸本線（1920年開業）ほかの各線の開通は、神戸・北摂の未開拓な後背地であった近郊農村地帯への着目のきっかけとなった。