It connects the two cities of Osaka and Kobe, between Umeda and Kobe-Sannomiya stations respectively.

The Main Line of Hanshin is the southernmost railway to connect Osaka and Kobe.

Operations included realigning and grade separating street running portions, using high platforms, and introducing express trains.

In 1968 Kobe Rapid Railway opened its Tōzai Line, and Hanshin began through operations to Sumaura-Kōen of Sanyo Electric Railway via Kobe Rapid (and Sanyo trains to Ōishi of Hanshin and Rokkō of Hankyū).

Some trains run through the Sanyō Railway Main Line to Sanyō Himeji Station in Himeji, Hyōgo beyond Motomachi terminal via Kobe Rapid Railway.