(1) The Arkansas Department of Transportation is empowered to require every company or person operating a railroad in Arkansas which runs and operates passenger trains to stop one (1) of its passenger trains each way every day at all regular stations where tickets are sold whether the station is a flag station or not.
(2) However, if the department after a hearing finds that adequate service for the carriage of passengers, mail, baggage, express, and newspapers between stations is or will be furnished and rendered daily by motor-propelled vehicles on highways, it shall have the power to authorize the railroad company to discontinue stopping the trains at stations.