A momentum-decoupled drive train for a machine, includes a servo motor, a first drive element and a second drive element. The second drive element is movably supported relative to a machine bed in a movement direction of a machine carriage. Reaction forces which are caused by the movement of the machine carriage, are compensated by a corresponding counter movement of the second drive element or a reaction carriage connected thereto, and hence are not transferred to the machine bed. The position of the machine carriage relative to the machine bed is controlled by correcting the position setpoint value with actual position and velocity data for the reaction carriage relative to the machine bed.