Sydney commuters' 'year of pain' approaches early end

NSW minister Jo Haylen says a train maintenance blitz has removed 70 per cent of defects so far. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Almost three-quarters of rail defects have been repaired as part of a year-long maintenance blitz that has been hampering Sydney commuters every weekend.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the $97 million maintenance project - forecast in June as a "year of pain" - was ahead of schedule, but she did not specify when the work would be finished.