Maintenance of depot facilities; joint maintenance by connecting railroads; discontinuance of passenger service; approval of commission; appeal of order of commission.

(a) Every railroad, unless excused therefrom by the order of the commission made after petition and hearing, shall provide and maintain adequate depots and depot buildings, including facilities for checking baggage and the sale of tickets at its regular stations and at such other points as the commission shall direct, for the accommodation of passengers, which buildings shall be kept clean, well-lighted and warm for the accommodation of the traveling public. All railroads shall keep and maintain adequate and suitable freight depots, buildings, switches and sidetracks for the receiving, handling and delivering of freight transported or to be transported by such railroads. Upon the filing of complaint with the commission and hearing thereon as provided in section 22, the commission is authorized to make full inquiry in the matter of station facilities, train service, name of station, etc., at the station in question, and make such orders in regard to the building of depots, interurban railway shelters, name of station, stopping of trains or cars, necessary sidings and other track accommodations as it shall deem for the public interest and shall be just and reasonable. No order shall be made by the commission with reference to the name of a station until the change so ordered shall have been asked for by a majority vote of the citizens of the township, incorporated village or city in which such station is located. (b) Where 2 or more railroads connect they shall, if so ordered by the commission after hearing, provide at the junction point a joint depot and suitable accommodations for passengers and merchandise. If the railroads cannot agree in providing such accommodations and for the maintenance thereof, the commission may determine the character of the accommodations to be provided and apportion the cost thereof and the expense of the maintenance of the same between the several roads. (c) Passenger service shall not be discontinued in this state without the permission of the commission and unless the railroad desiring to discontinue such service shall first file a petition with the commission, and hearing is held thereon as provided in section 22. The commission at such hearing shall inquire into the convenience and necessity of the service to the public and shall render its decision thereon. At any hearing upon such petition any person, association, corporation, municipality or governmental unit whose interests shall be adversely affected by the discontinuance of the service, may petition the commission for leave to intervene in said proceedings and participate therein as a party. If it shall appear to the commission from the state of the applicant's interests that the interests may be adversely affected by the discontinuance of service, the commission shall grant permission to intervene. The provisions of this act shall not apply to temporary or seasonal trains. (d) Any common carrier, or other party in interest, being dissatisfied with any order of the commission made under the provisions of this section, shall have the same rights to appeal and review as provided under section 26, as amended.