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The End Of The Line: Syrians Reach Germany

Escorted from trains by riot police at Munich station, they have finally made it to western Europe.

After the fear, undoubted fatigue and endless uncertainty, this is where their journey ends.

Most speak little English but their faces express a thousand words - they are happy to have reached the end of the line.

We watch as a Syrian man rushes forward. There is sheer delight that a relative already in Germany has got word of his arrival - coming to the station for a longed for reunion.

But after months, even years on the road, there also is a sense of bewilderment that the dream has become a reality.

Zuhar Kasar tells us he left Syria to avoid joining the army of Bashar al Assad.

It has taken a year and a half to get from Damascus to Munich. His son Ahmed was born on the way. His wife Heba is pregnant. They always hoped their next baby would be born in Germany.

We are at a welcome centre at Munich station where the migrants are given food, water and clothing.

There has been a steady stream of arrivals but, since Hungary held thousands of people at Budapest station preventing them from taking international trains heading west, the numbers of people reaching Munich has diminished.

Those who have got here have dodged the Hungarian ban by taking other indirect trains or paying for alternative transport.

The Abbas family told us they waited in Budapest for two days but after failing to get a train they paid €700 for a taxi to Munich station.

Twelve-year-old Abdullah Abbas delights in his new trainers while his cousin Abdul inspects the toys and gifts donated by local people.

But the family's happiness is tempered by a sadness for those left behind: they couldn't afford for the children's mother and aunt Massyai to make the journey from Syria. Nineteen-year-old Kamar Abbas says simply of her mother: "Miss you".