This changed behavior after issue 3307
--- /dev/null
+\version "2.17.18"
+
+\header {
+ lsrtags = "really-simple, rhythms, version-specific"
+
+ texidoc = "
+When using multi-measure rests in a polyphonic staff, the rests will be
+placed differently depending on the voice they belong to. However they
+can be printed on the same staff line, using the following setting.
+
+"
+ doctitle = "Merging multi-measure rests in a polyphonic part"
+}
+
+normalPos = \revert MultiMeasureRest.direction
+
+{
+ <<
+ {
+ c''1
+ R1
+ c''1
+ \normalPos
+ R1
+ }
+ \\
+ {
+ c'1
+ R1
+ c'1
+ \normalPos
+ R1
+ }
+ >>
+}