During the Japanese National Railways age, the San-in main line was used almost exclusively by long-distance limited express trains or long-distance local trains, and the demand created by those commuting to school or work from the outskirts of Kyoto was hardly considered.
日本国有鉄道時代の山陰本線はあくまでも長距離特別急行列車や長距離普通列車を中心に運行され、京都近郊の通勤通学需要が殆ど考慮されていなかった。