§ 54. Notice of starting trains; no preferences. Every railroad
corporation shall start and run its cars for the transportation of
passengers and property at regular times, to be fixed by public notice,
and shall furnish sufficient accommodations for the transportation of
all passengers and property which shall be offered for transportation at
the place of starting, within a reasonable time previously thereto, and
at the junctions of other railroads, and at the usual stopping places
established for receiving and discharging way passengers and freight for
that train; and shall take, transport and discharge such passengers and
property at, from and to such places, on the due payment of the fare or
freight legally authorized therefor. No station established by any
railroad corporation for the reception or delivery of passengers or
property, or both, shall be discontinued without the consent of the
commissioner of transportation first had and obtained. No preference for
the transaction of the business of a common carrier upon its cars, or in
its depots or buildings, or upon its grounds, shall be granted by any
railroad corporation to any one of two or more persons, associations or
corporations competing in the same business, or in the business of
transporting property for themselves or others. Any such station in an
incorporated village shall have the same name as the village; if any
road shall have more than one such station in any such village the
station nearest the geographical center thereof shall have such name.
Names of stations may be changed on the petition of any person
interested with the consent of the commissioner of transportation. If
the name of any station has been heretofore changed by the railroad
company, the commissioner of transportation may restore the name changed
or make such change therein as the circumstances require.