Moreover, although not only JNR Steam Locomotive C54 class and JNR Diesel Locomotive Type DD54 had been assigned but also the Limited Express 'Matsukaze (train)' had been operated since 1961, given that the Limited Express 'Hamakaze (train),' which had been newly started in 1972, was changed to a train with a stopover in Himeji for reasons related to the reduction in operating hours, it was far from functioning as a semi-main line.
さらに国鉄C54形蒸気機関車や国鉄DD54形ディーゼル機関車が配属され、特急「まつかぜ(列車)」が福知山線経由で1961年から設定されていたが、1972年に新設された特急「はまかぜ(列車)」に至っては時間短縮を理由に姫路経由となるなど亜幹線として機能しているとは言い難い状況であった。