Taiwan Railway Corp. will stop renting station ad space for political and election-related messages on Jan. 1, 2027, after a social media post questioned the state-owned operator’s neutrality.
The railway said it made the decision because of public perceptions of the ads and its commitment to administrative neutrality. The new policy will not affect political ads already posted in stations, it said.
The Central News Agency (CNA) reported that a Threads user shared photos of an advertisement for Kuomintang Yunlin County magistrate candidate Chang Chia-chun beside the ticket gates at Douliu Railway Station. The user questioned whether the railway’s ban on renting station facilities for political activities should also cover campaign ads.
Taiwan Railway said the Central Election Commission and the Ministry of Civil Service regard station ad space leased to third parties as commercial rentals that comply with current neutrality rules. The railway said it requires equal treatment of candidates across parties and restricts ad size.
Taiwan’s 2026 local elections are scheduled for Nov. 28, before the new rental policy takes effect.
