Because it's the railway line connecting Kyoto and Otsu, this line is quite inferior to the Biwako Line, which is operated by the West Japan Railway Company and runs parallel to it, in terms of travel time, frequency of operation and fares.
京都と大津の都市間輸送としては所要時間や運転本数、運賃などの面で並走する西日本旅客鉄道の琵琶湖線に対して大きな差がある。