by Clifton Linton, Editor, Energy Transport Insider

U.S. petroleum and petroleum product rail carloads at 9,587 were down 29.8% in the week ending Oct. 8 as compared to the same week a year prior, the Association of American Railroads reported on Wednesday.

Through the first forty weeks of the year, petroleum and petroleum product carloads, at 442,188, were down 22.3%.

Slumping petroleum prices continue to play a major role in the traffic decline.

In general, railroad freight traffic was down broadly for the week. Total U.S. carl...