Likewise, in the Kohoku area, where the line was AC-electrified and thus operated with only a few trains, and a through-train to Maibara Station and stations to the west of Maibara Station didn't exist, 'the special rapid train' gathered momentum; since the transfer among the Kosei and Kohoku areas was inconvenient because of the existence of the AC/DC section and a few through-trains being operated, the construction for the DC electrification was the important challenge for the local governments so as to overcome these problems.
同様に交流電化で列車本数が少なく、米原以西への直通がなかった湖北地区に「新快速の直通を」という機運が高まり、湖西と湖北地区の相互交流も、この交直セクションのために直通電車が少なく不便であったので、これらを解消するためにも直流化工事は地元の重要課題であった。