The German rail timetable changes once a year, at the Fahrplanwechsel in December. The date is set by European law: the second Saturday in December, at midnight. Requests for train paths close up to twelve months before the change. Deutsche Bahn usually publishes the next year’s timetable in mid-October. A second change in June is possible where an adjustment is needed after the winter. When storms or strikes disrupt service across regions, Deutsche Bahn runs an Ersatzfahrplan, a substitute timetable.