The Marklin version is only available in German. Try the Windigital suftware in English if you prefer. It is exactly the same software, so you do not have to translate.

I beleive that the product in question for making track plans is Wintrack and can be found here http://www.wintrack.de
The German version is at V7, other languages are at V6 at this time. There are also addon CD's which can be purchased which contain extra 3D pictures of actual models for locomotives, railcars and structures so that you can get a beter representation of what your layout may look like. Has a very extensive track library also.

The program Windigital is a program which is used to control the layout and there is a Marklin counter part for this also. But a Marklin counter part will specialize in their product line only if my memory serves me right. The link for Windigital is http://www.abbinkserver.de

That would depend on how one would look at the situation. I personally do not think it is over priced, especially if one were to make multiple track plans in order to experiment with possible designes or make many alterations. Also this is a hobby and in most cases hobbies are not cheap, but one does its best to keep costs in down where possible.

OK Everyone many thanks for the comment.