 The line from Pontardulais to the New Dock at Llanelly was opened for mineral traffic on 1 June 1839.From Pontardulais construction was directed towards the Amman Valley as having greater income potential than the rural route towards Llandilo.From Pontardulais to Cwmamman (later called Garnant) was opened on 10 April 1840 and the line was extended to Gwaun-cae-Gurwen on 6 May 1841.