The station is located 200 metres northeast of the historic old town (Altstadt) of Aalen in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

The third connection was achieved on 13 September 1864 with the opening of the Brenz Railway (Brenzbahn) to Heidenheim (the connection from Heidenheim to Ulm was not completed until 1876 because of the so-called Brenzbahn clause of the treaty between Württemberg and Bavaria that authorised construction of the Rems Railway).

Thus, despite the scarcity of funds (the Württemberg government provided only 500,000 German gold marks of the necessary 3,500,000), the station was prepared for further traffic increases.

[8] During World War II there was a wave of attacks on the station, starting on 1 and 2 April 1945, when it was not very damaged.

Only the targeted attacks on 8 and 17 April did lasting damage to the station, causing passenger services to be stopped altogether.

The next major change took place in 1970 with the beginning of the electrification of the Rems Railway, which was completed on 28 May 1972.

The 4.4 million Deutsche Marks project provided the station with a travel centre, a shop and a bistro.

In January 2010, it was announced that Aalen station would benefit from federal funds from the first economic stimulus package, totalling about €4.8 million, for modernisation and for adapting its access for the disabled.

In 2003 a bike parking area with 204 places was opened,[11] which is under video surveillance for protection from theft.