Because it takes nearly the same time to cover the railway section as the rapid train, the Kitakinki train service also functions like the "Home Liner" (a train whose number of passengers is fixed mainly for securing seats for all of them during the commute hours) when running in the section from Sanda Station and southward; in this section they stop at every station at which the rapid train stops, except for Nishinomiyanajio Station, Nakayamadera Station, Kawanishiikeda Station and Itami Station (of JR West).
また快速との所要時間が大きくないために三田以南ではいわばホームライナー的な要素も持っている（三田以南で通過する快速停車駅は西宮名塩駅・中山寺駅・川西池田駅・伊丹駅(JR西日本)のみ）。