Meanwhile, the Hokuriku Line was AC-electrified and operated with a few local trains; passengers were required to change trains at Maibara Station in order to transfer from the Kohoku area, the northern coastal area of Lake Biwa, to Otsu Station or the Keihanshin area.
一方、北陸線も交流電化のためローカル列車の本数も少なく、湖北と大津や京阪神間の移動には米原での乗り換えが必要であった。