In 1937, when the section between Kyoto Station on the JNR Tokaido Main Line and Suita Station (JR West) was fully electrified (the electrification between Suita Station and Suma Station was completed in 1934) and special rapid trains started connecting between Kyoto and Osaka in 36 minutes, Keihan competed by increasing the number of trains on both lines and reducing the fares.
また、1937年に国鉄東海道本線京都駅～吹田駅(JR西日本)間の電化が完成（吹田駅～須磨駅間は1934年に完成）し、京阪間を直行便の36分で結ぶ新快速が走るようになると、京阪では両線ともに列車の本数を増やし、運賃の値下げまで行うなどして対抗した。