Because of this, electric cars going through to the Hokuriku area on the Kosei Line were limited to cars capable of switching AC and DC thereon, namely AC/DC electric cars such as JNR/JR Limited Express Series 485 and JNR/JR Electric Locomotive Type EF81for AC/DC electric cars.
これにより、湖西線を北陸方面に直通する電気車両は車上で交流と直流の切り替えのできるもの、つまり国鉄485系電車などの交直流電車と交直流両用の国鉄EF81形電気機関車電気機関車に限られた。