Due to this form of operation, passengers can change trains on the same platform: from Osaka it's convenient to change at Kyoto Station for the train to the Kosei Line, and from the Kosei Line it's convenient to change at Yamashina Station for the train to Osaka.
この運転形態のため、大阪方面から湖西線へは京都でホーム対面、湖西線から大阪方面へは山科でホーム対面での乗り換えが可能で、利便性は高い。