Under what circumstances may foul time be issued as "joint"?

Foul time is a critical aspect of railway operations aimed at ensuring safety while conducting maintenance work or other operations on the track. The concept of "joint" foul time specifically refers to a situation where two or more crews share a period of time during which they are working on or near the same track or area.

The correct understanding indicates that foul time is never issued as "joint." Instead, it is given as individual foul time for each relevant crew to ensure that safety measures are appropriately maintained. This approach helps to prevent any potential confusion or miscommunication that could arise if multiple crews believed they had overlapping foul time, which could increase the risk of accidents.

In scenarios where multiple teams are working in proximity, it is crucial for each team to have clear and separate foul time to maintain a focused awareness on their safety and operational protocols. Therefore, the idea of issuing joint foul time contradicts the established safety practices within the BNSF Maintenance of Way Operating Rules, reinforcing the necessity for each crew to operate with a distinct and undivided foul time to maintain the highest safety standards.