In the eighth report of the Kinki Regional Transportation Council in October 2004, direct interoperation between the Kyoto Line and the Kobe Line is positioned as one of 'the principle programs to be studied concerning the improvement of existing facilities.'
2004年10月の近畿地方交通審議会答申第8号において、京都線と神戸線の相互直通運転が「既存施設の改良に関し検討すべき主な事業」のひとつに挙げられている。