§ 57-a. A steam or electric railroad corporation having a franchise from this state, operating to and from stations within a city of over a million inhabitants, and owned, controlled or operated by a railroad corporation having a franchise from another state, shall not charge a rate per mile within such city in excess of the rates charged for similar service from such city to stations in an adjacent state, by such railroad corporation having a franchise from another state, whether over its own tracks or under an agreement with another railroad corporation. The penalty and remedy provided by section fifty-nine of this chapter shall be applicable to a failure to comply with the provisions of this section, and such remedy may be pursued and such penalty may be recovered by a person who shall have paid any such excess rate of fare.