FS Italian Tourist Trains, part of the FS Group, is introducing this autumn the Siena Express, a new tourist train service directly linking Rome with Siena. Operated with restored Gran Confort carriages from the 1970s, the service offers travellers a nostalgic journey through some of the most beautiful landscapes of central Italy.
Timetable and journey
The Siena Express will run on three selected weekends: 27–28 September, 4–5 October and 1–2 November 2025. Departure from Roma Termini takes place on Saturday morning at 07:42, arriving in Siena around 13:20. The return journey departs Siena on Sunday afternoon at 15:05, arriving back in Rome in the evening. The journey takes around six hours, emphasising a relaxed pace and enjoyment of the scenery rather than speed.
Route and stops
Along the way, the train passes through landscapes such as the Maremma, Argentario and the Val d’Orcia, the latter being a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Stops include:
- Tarquinia, known for its Etruscan heritage;
- Capalbio, a medieval hilltop town;
- Orbetello, famous for its lagoon;
- Grosseto, with its Renaissance square and city walls;
- Montepescali and Monte Antico, small villages among vineyards and olive groves;
- Buonconvento and Monteroni d’Arbia, medieval towns set in Tuscany’s rolling hills.
A stylish travel experience
The carriages have been meticulously restored by the FS Foundation and exude the elegance of the 1970s.
According to FS Treni Turistici Italiani, “the Gran Confort evokes the charm of the golden age of train travel,” while “the slow pace of the journey allows passengers to peacefully admire the vineyards, villages and gentle hills on the way to Siena.”
The journey is described as “a unique opportunity to slow down, to connect deeply with the beauty of the landscape, and to savour the most authentic essence of Tuscany.”
Price and accessibility
Tickets for the Siena Express start at €29 (around £25). This makes the train a relatively affordable way to enjoy a luxurious and nostalgic travel experience, aimed at both international visitors and Italians who wish to rediscover Tuscany in a new way.
Tourism en culture
The launch of the Siena Express is part of a wider trend of tourist train routes in Italy, giving travellers the chance to combine culture, history and nature with a nostalgic mode of transport.
For Siena, the service represents an extra boost for tourism, encouraging visitors to explore the city and its famous Piazza del Campo and medieval old town at a leisurely pace.
