Train strike 10/27 -- tell me if this works.

The Trenord website says they will issue a list of guaranteed trains any time now, so keep looking.
http://www.trenord.it/en/news/news/24h-national-transport-strike-june-23th-24th-(3).aspx

Yes, the link address does say June 23-24, but they are recycling an old notice. This one does refer to the October 26-27 strike.

Terri,
I don't think anyone can tell you if the 7:20AM train will be one of the trains that will be affected by the strike or not.

Keep in mind that you can take a later train to Varenna, since your ticket is valid for 4 hours, after the time you chose as your departure time.

To be safe, I'd check the Trenitalia website the evening of the 26th
to see if the 7:20AM train will be running or not.

Did you already book your return tickets to Milan? You can buy these at Milano Centrale, since the tiny station in Varenna is not manned.

Varenna is amazing, enjoy!

I would be surprised if it wasn't jammed full

Ryan, I've no experience with this bus at all but maybe someone else does. Looks like Flixbus can get you from Siena to Rome Tiburtina station in about 3 hours, direct.

https://shop.flixbus.com/search?rideDate=27.10.2017&adult=1&children=0&bike_slot=0&route=Siena-Rome+Tiburtina+Bus+station&departureCity=6298&departureStation=&arrivalCity=2075&arrivalStation=2425&_locale=en&_ga=2.18669753.142697566.1508875416-1988375400.1508875416&_gac=1.209454630.1508875416.EAIaIQobChMIxrn86YaK1wIVXbjACh33AA61EAAYASAAEgKr7vD_BwE

Sorry for the long URL. Hopefully, someone can fill in any blanks or correct any errors I may have missed.

See

http://m.trenord.it/site-lite/index.html#news/678222c1-9b3b-4568-a492-48a7c21b1002

This gives a PDF list of the guaranteed trains from Milano Centrale to Tirano via Varenna-Esino on the 27th.

The 7.20 AM train number 2552 is not on the list, but the 6.20 AM train number 2550 is on the list. The 2552 could still be running, but it isn't clear. I think you can change your ticket online the day before travel or you could just forget about the 7.20 and book the 6.20. There are no other trains going that way on the morning of the 27th.

I got the above using the Trenit app and searching for Trenit on Facebook, where it gives links for Trenitalia etc. during strikes.

For Siena to Rome see

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom/Treni-Regionali/Toscana/treni-garantiti-toscana

There is PDF list at that link of guaranteed trains including some from Siena to Florence Firenze S.M.Novella. You could go from Siena to Florence and the get a Freccia train from Firenze S.M.N. to Roma Termini. I think the high speed trains Frecce are not usually affected by strikes.

Let us know how it works out for you, Ryan? If you end up taking a bus and it turns out to be a good choice, that might be a valuable option for future posters needing to get from Siena to Rome - especially if it's a direct route with no changes and not much additional time involved.

And fingers crossed for everyone else needing to travel in Italy tomorrow! 🤞

That strike seems to have ended at 13.00, at least for Trenitalia and Trenord and Atac buses in Rome. The Trenit app shows that almost all trains ran normally for Milano to Varenna and Siena to Florence.

Thanks for the reply, Ryan, and I'm happy that you got to Rome economically and efficiently! Was it Flixbus that you ended up taking or another provider?