Places reached by sea or light railway (5)

I believe the answer is:

docks

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'places' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for docks that I've seen before include "Removes tail" , "Cuts short, curtails" , "Broadleaved weeds" , "Cuts short; port features" , "Reduces" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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