At that time, trains were operated in rotation from Kyoto to Nishi-Akashi, to Takatsuki, to Shin-Sanda, and back to Kyoto, until the timetable was revised in March 2003, whereby the rotation became divided into two lines, namely the Keihanshin Local Line (from Kyoto to Nishi-Akashi) and the Keihanshin/JR Takarazuka Line (between Takatsuki and Shin-Sanda).
この時の運用は京都→西明石→高槻→新三田→京都のローテーションで、この運用が2003年3月のダイヤ改正で京阪神緩行線（京都←→西明石）と京阪神緩行・JR宝塚線（高槻←→新三田）に分割されるまで続くこととなる。