(a) If in the judgment of the Arkansas Department of Transportation any railroad corporation or street railroad corporation does not run trains enough or cars enough or possess or operate motive power enough reasonably to accommodate the passenger and freight traffic transported by or offered for transportation to it, or does not run its trains or cars with sufficient frequency or at reasonable or proper time, having regard to safety, or does not run any train or car upon a reasonable time schedule for the run, then, after a hearing either on its own motion or after complaint, the department shall have power to make an order directing any such railroad corporation or street railroad corporation to increase the number of its trains or of its cars or its motive power, or to change the time for starting its trains or cars, or to change the time schedule for the run of any train or car, or make any other suitable order that the department may determine reasonably necessary to accommodate and transport the passenger or freight traffic transported or offered for transportation.

(b) No railroad corporation, street railroad corporation, or common carrier shall abandon, take up, or cease to operate for the transportation of passengers or freight any line, or any portion of its line, which it may deem no longer necessary for the successful operation of its road and for the convenience of the public without first obtaining the permission and approval of the department.

(c) Nothing in this section shall authorize the department to make any order with reference to the amount of cars or motive power or with reference to the schedule or with reference to the operation or nonoperation of that part of any street railroad within the limits of any municipality of this state. It is the intention of this act that the jurisdiction as to such matters shall be elsewhere under this act delegated to municipal councils and city commissions of this state.