Electrification work was also underway on the Suma-Akashi section at that time, but its completion couldn't keep up with that of the Suita-Suma section and gasoline powered trains were operated on this section.
このとき、須磨～明石間でも電化工事を実施していたが、完成が吹田～須磨間の電化開業に間に合わなかったことから、電車に接続する形でガソリンカーを運転した。