Although electrified lines such as the Fukuchiyama Line and Hakubi Line or new, high-speed lines like the Chizu Express Chizu Line connect the Sanin region with coastal regions of the Inland Sea, the idea of connecting cities laterally within the Sanin region has rarely been considered until recently; likewise, the electrification of the line has been done in a patchy manner.
山陰と瀬戸内側を結ぶ線には福知山線、伯備線等の電化された路線や智頭急行智頭線のような高速新線があるが、山陰の横同士の連絡は最近まであまり考慮されず、電化もそれらの延長的存在でつぎはぎ状態で行われた。