Since the mid-Taisho period, the Hanshin Main Line operated by the Hanshin Electric Railway and the Hankyu Kobe Line operated by the Hanshin Electric Express Railway (or Hankyu) had been fiercely competing for customers between Osaka and Kobe.
大正時代中期以降、阪神間においては阪神電気鉄道の阪神本線と阪神急行電鉄（阪急）の阪急神戸本線が激しい乗客獲得競争を繰り広げていた。