Due to the competitions with the Tokaido Main Line, the Tokaido Shinkansen and Kintetsu Limited Express, however, the line is currently being used mainly for interurban transportation/tourists transportation by Rapid and Limited Express between Nagoya and Ise City/Nanki region as well as for interurban transportation/commuters transportation on the electrified sections between Nagoya and Kameyama/Ise in Aichi/Mie Prefecture and Kamo and Osaka in Nara/Osaka Prefecture, rather than the transportation between Nagoya and Nara/Osaka (details of operation are to be mentioned below).
並行する東海道本線や東海道新幹線の整備、近鉄特急の攻勢で、名古屋-奈良・大阪間の輸送よりも、名古屋と伊勢市・南紀を結ぶ快速や特急による都市間輸送・観光輸送、電化された愛知・三重県内の名古屋-亀山・伊勢間および奈良県・大阪府内の加茂-大阪間における都市間輸送・通勤通学輸送が中心の路線となっている（詳細な運行形態は後述）。