(a) Consolidation. If two or more actions involve common questions of law or fact, the Chief Administrative Law Judge may do the following:

(1) Order a joint hearing or trial on any or all such questions.

(2) Order the consolidation of such actions.

(3) Otherwise make such orders concerning the proceedings as may tend to avoid unnecessary costs or delay.

(b) Consolidation shall not affect the applicability of this part. Consolidation of two or more actions that individually meet the jurisdictional amounts set forth in §1503.601(a)(2) shall not cause the resulting consolidated action to come under the exclusive jurisdiction of the district courts of the United States as specified in 49 U.S.C. 46301(d)(4)(A).

(c) Separate trials. The Chief Administrative Law Judge, in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will be conducive to expedition and economy, may order a separate trial of any claim, or of any separate issue, or any number of claims or issues.