With the extension of the special rapid service to Tsuruga Station in October 2006, the platforms at Omi-Shiotsu and Shin-Hikida Stations were elevated and the middle track (Platform 4) at Tsuruga Station was shortened to an effective length equal to four cars, whereby the coupling and decoupling of cars has been carried out at Omi-Imazu Station (some trains are managed at Kyoto Station).
2006年10月の新快速敦賀延長では、近江塩津・新疋田各駅のホームかさ上げと敦賀駅中線（4番ホーム）の有効長を4両分のみとしたため、近江今津駅（一部の列車は京都駅で）で列車の分割併合を行うことになった。