Vienna: Weary migrants fleeing from the conflict in Syria and Libya, or the economic desperation in some African nations, were welcomed to Austria with a round of applause from hundreds of locals, and a banner reading: "Refugees Welcome – Open Borders".

The Viennese who assembled to greet the newcomers on Monday brought shopping carts and boxes full of bottled water, bread, nappies, biscuits, fruit and sweets. "They have been travelling so long and must be very hungry and they have been treated so shabbily," said Marlene Pramhas, a social worker.

Protesters in Vienna welcome refugees and push for a change to government policy. Photo: AP

She and two friends brought as many loaves of bread as they could carry to the train station, where "it is more or less chaos," she added. "We felt we had to do something," Ms Pramhas said. "It's a small thing but maybe it will help."

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Six trains arrived in Vienna in short order on Monday and most of the passengers were intent on pressing on to Germany.

When the doors of one train from Budapest opened, a stream of people poured off, many clutching bags of clothing and other possessions. There were children screaming as cameras flashed and several people on the station platform waved and called out, "Hi! Welcome!"

Protesting in Vienna on Monday for more compassion toward refugees. Photo: AP

One weeping boy was separated from his family. Fellow travellers held him aloft as he screamed "Mama! Mama!" with tears streaming down his cheeks. Finally, a man emerged from one of the cars and scooped the terrified boy into his arms to another round of applause while dozens of onlookers recorded the scene on their cellphones.

Meanwhile, around 20,000 people marched in Vienna to demonstrate against ill-treatment of migrants, after the bodies of 71 refugees were found in an abandoned truck last week. Holding up large banners reading "Refugees welcome" and "I don't want Europe to be a mass grave", Austrians of all ages rallied at a major city train station before heading down a shopping thoroughfare.

"Thank God nobody asked for a passport ... No police, no problem," said Khalil, 33, an English teacher from Kobani in Syria, as his wife held their sick baby daughter coughing and crying in her arms at the Vienna station.

Migrants, many fleeing from warzones, move through Vienna's main railway station on Monday. Photo: Reuters

He described how he and his family had been able to buy train tickets in Budapest and were headed for Hamburg, Germany, adding that he was sure of seeing a better welcome there after traipsing across the Balkans and Hungary.

"As for Germany, Syrians call [Chancellor Angela] Merkel 'Mama Merkel', he added, referring to the German leader's response to the migrant crisis: allowing Syrians to seek refuge in Germany.

Austrian authorities made it as easy as possible for the migrants to pass through Vienna.

Arriving at Vienna's railway station on Monday. Photo: AP

When the second-class cars were crammed to capacity, the first-class seats were opened to several dozen people still clustered on the platform. Those cars, too, quickly filled.

New York Times, AAP, Reuters