When the outbound train that ends at Osaka Station is deadheaded to the depot of Kyoto General Operation Station, it goes outbound from Osaka Station, and after passing Tsukamoto Station it enters the Hoppo Freight Line from the west side in order to directly join the JR Kyoto Line (outer line) (and to start from the depot, the train turns back on the same route).
下り大阪止め列車を京都総合運転所へ入庫させるときは大阪駅を下り方面に進み、塚本駅通過後、北方貨物線に西側から入り、そのままJR京都線（外側線）に合流する（出庫のときはこの逆ルート）。