Our Story
Rail Watch is the phoenix of the East Palestine train derailment.
Founded by Jess Conard, a multi-generational community member directly impacted by the 2023 East Palestine train derailment disaster, Rail Watch was created to turn a crisis into a catalyst. The mission is straightforward: prevent train derailments in communities across the United States, Canada, and beyond.
Rail Watch is the first and only grassroots organization in the nation working directly with at-risk communities to prevent train derailments. Founded and directed by someone who lived it, this organization exists because no community should have to navigate rail safety alone.
What Makes Rail Watch Different
Railroads are important to our country. Rail Watch does not work against the rail industry — it works in tandem with it to keep communities safe from derailment disasters.
Rail Watch has crossed intersectional and interagency boundaries to serve as a vessel to connect communities and authorities. The result: actionable change that maintains jobs, improves infrastructure, holds railroads accountable, and empowers communities to enforce the laws that already exist to prevent derailment disasters.
We work closely with:
- Community leaders and residents
- Unions and rail workers
- Government entities at local, state, and federal levels
- Industry stakeholders
Jess Conard, Founder & Executive Director
Jess Conard is a community leader directly impacted by the East Palestine train derailment who turned firsthand experience into a national movement for rail safety. Jess partners with rail safety groups and enthusiasts who have spent years in the trenches of rail safety advocacy and built the foundations of this work. Jess aims to compliment and collaborate to build community power that will keep our trains on the tracks, our economy strong and our communities safe. jessconard.com
Our Team
Donal Lynagh — Community Advocacy Fellow
Board members coming soon.
Fiscal Sponsorship
Rail Watch is a fiscally sponsored organization with Non-Profit Partners, a subsidiary of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.