Vale of Rheidol – Temporary Modular Building

Ashdown was commissioned by the Vale of Rheidol Railway to provide a temporary ticket office that would allow the heritage railway to remain fully operational throughout the construction of its new permanent ticket office.

The solution was a transportable, heritage-style modular building, designed and manufactured off-site at our manufacturing facility in Llandow before being delivered and rapidly assembled on site. Designed with relocation and future use in mind, the building provided a practical temporary solution while retaining the flexibility to be repurposed beyond its original use.

Ashdown designed, manufactured and delivered the temporary ticket office as a modular timber-frame building, with the works including:

The key challenge was to create a fully functional temporary ticket office within a tight programme, while ensuring the building reflected the character of the Vale of Rheidol Railway and its Great Western Railway heritage.

Ashdown developed a modular timber-frame design that could be manufactured off-site and transported to the railway in sections. This approach significantly reduced the amount of construction required on site and allowed the building to be assembled quickly ahead of the summer tourist season.

The design was carefully considered to reflect an early-1900s railway aesthetic, with corrugated metal sheeting externally, painted tongue-and-groove lining internally and a purpose-built heritage-style ticket counter. This heritage-sensitive approach draws on Ashdown experience in heritage and restoration, where careful consideration is given to the character, appearance and detailing of traditional buildings.

The completed commercial building provided both ticketing and retail facilities, allowing it to operate as a ticket office and small gift shop while the permanent facility was being constructed.

Manufacturing took place over the winter period at our timber frame manufacturing facility in Llandow, with the completed sections delivered to site in January 2019.

The modular construction approach enabled the building to be transported in four loads and rapidly assembled on site, helping the railway maintain its operations throughout the construction of the permanent ticket office.

This commercial project was delivered on time and within budget, ready to support the start of the next tourist season.

The temporary ticket office successfully provided the Vale of Rheidol Railway with a fully operational facility during the construction of its permanent ticket office, helping to avoid disruption to the summer tourist season.

The project also demonstrated the long-term value of designing temporary buildings with flexibility and future use in mind. Although the building was initially intended to be relocated to Devil’s Bridge, it was subsequently moved to a heritage museum site and repurposed as a restaurant and seating area. Extending the building’s useful life in this way helped avoid unnecessary waste and demonstrated how thoughtful, adaptable construction can support more sustainable outcomes.

The project demonstrates Ashdown’s ability to deliver specialist commercial  construction solutions where programme, functionality, heritage considerations and future adaptability all need to be carefully balanced.